Pac "Khan kicked my ass in sparing today", Khan "Mayweather unfollowed me on twitter"

MANNY PACQUIAO has sent Amir Khan the birthday message he only ever dreamed of hearing: You kicked my ass. The eight-division world champion, universally acknowledged as the best boxer on the planet, has admitted for the first time Khan has got the better of him in their fierce spars. Pacman told Freddie Roach, who trains them both, "Amir kicked my ass today" after their final session ahead of Khan's world-title defence against Marcos Maidana on Saturday night. Roach added: "Amir beat the s**t out of him for four rounds in their last session before we started easing off the training. Even Manny knows that and he said so." Khan, 24 today, has been sparring with Pacman - the first boxer in history to win 10 world titles in eight different divisions - ever since he linked with Roach. He turned to Roach two years ago when his career was falling apart following a shock 54-second knockout defeat against journeyman Breidis Prescott. Such is Khan's rise since that dark night that there is talk of facing Pacquiao for real - even though the Bolton Bomber doubts that will happen because of their friendship outside of the ring. Floyd Mayweather jnr, who knocked out Ricky Hatton in 10 rounds, is a more realistic proposition should Khan come through as expected against Argentinian slugger Maidana. Khan said: "I think Mayweather might be a little too much for me at the moment. But that is a fight for the future. "He was following me on Twitter and then all the people were going on about us fighting and he stopped following me. "He has blanked me ever since. I know he could read all the messages that people were tweeting and I don't think he liked it so I 'unfollowed' him as well." Roach added: "I used to think I had one fighter who could beat Mayweather - but now I think I have got two. "I am not a big fan of Mayweather - Amir and Manny have speed which he can't handle. If Mayweather won't fight Manny, maybe he will fight Amir. "I am not saying I would want that one right now, but maybe in another two fights." Roach 'tested' Khan before he agreed to take him on by throwing him into a sparring session with Pacman at his Wild Card gym in Los Angeles. He has been impressed ever since, steering him to the world title and two successful defences, and says it is Khan's ability to listen which is setting him apart. Advertisement Roach, regarded as the most successful trainer of all time, said: "I have never had a better listener than Amir. You give him a gameplan and he sticks to it and I know he will do that on Saturday. "I tell him one thing and he does it. If I told him not to throw a punch in a round he would do it. "But I break it down for him so he knows exactly why I am saying it. He is the best listener I have had - and I have had some good guys." As for Khan's birthday today, there are no celebrations are planned - just another relentless round of running, training to stay sharp, eating to make the 140lb limit and sleeping. Khan said: "I am going to celebrate with my conditioner Alex Ariza getting me up at 5am to go for a run. "Freddie will then get me in the gym but the only present I will get off him will be a session on the pads. "Then my birthday tea will be some vegetables, steamed chicken, rice and water. We are getting very close to the fight and we have to make sure my weight is right. "I don't mind making these sacrifices now because I know that's what it takes to be a champion. "Also, in a couple of days' time, I will be able to relax and chill with all my friends and I want to make sure it will all be worth it by stopping Maidana."