Manny Pacquiao Will Face Amir Khan, Floyd Mayweather Bout a Farce, Says Bob Arum

Manny Pacquiao has seemingly chosen his next opponent, with the Filipino's promoter Bob Arum suggesting Amir Khan is being lined up for a 2016 fight in the Middle East.

Britain's Khan recently missed out on meeting the undefeated Floyd Mayweather after the American revealed Andre Berto as his next opponent, a decision Arum has labelled "a farce."

However, a bout with eight-division world champion Pacquiao could provide Khan with some consolation given the 36-year-old's immense pedigree and profile.

Pacquiao was beaten by Mayweather back in May, and Arum is eyeing Khan as the opponent for his comeback fight, although it will not take place until next year, per Gareth A Davies in the Telegraph:

"

This kid Amir Khan keeps shooting his mouth off about Manny Pacquiao. I can arrange for Khan to fight Pacquiao. Amir Khan has been begging Mayweather for a fight and now he can get a major fight. I'm not a hard guy to deal with. I'm not going to mess them around. 

That's a farce [Mayweather's bout with Berto]. Mayweather should have fought Khan next. It would have been an interesting fight. One thing's for sure, Pacquiao is not ducking Khan. Pacquiao will fight him. I don't know if Khan will fight Pacquiao, but it's available.

Manny's not going to fight this year. He'll fight early next year and probably in the Middle East. Vegas is a possibility, but more likely in the Middle East. It won't be in Dubai but it will be in the Middle East. If not, we'll do it in Vegas.

"

Arum is not the only one disappointed by Mayweather's choice of Berto for his next opponent as he looks to equal Rocky Marciano's undefeated 49-0 record.

ESPN's Dan Rafael summed up the prevailing attitude toward the fight when it was announced recently:

However, a potential clash between 28-year-old Khan and Pacquiao is a much more exciting prospect.

Since suffering back-to-back defeats in 2011 and 2012, Khan is undefeated in his last five fights, most recently beating Chris Algieri—a 2014 victim of Pac-Man's—by unanimous decision in May,

A 2016 clash would allow Pacquiao time to fully recover from the surgery he had on a shoulder injury he claimed hampered him in his defeat to Mayweather in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao's over-hyped meeting with Money was a huge disappointment. However, a clash with Khan could be a fascinating battle.

Khan is fast, and would no doubt cause Pacquiao some problems, but the Briton would have to out-manoeuvre one of the most experienced fighters in the business.

There is set to be little excitement over Mayweather's clash with Berto, but perhaps boxing fans will have something else to get pumped up about if Pacquiao and Khan can work out a deal.