Manny Pacquiao vs. Amir Khan: Latest News and Rumours on Potential Fight

Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan could be on course for a showdown in Dubai in 2016, with reports suggesting Middle Eastern backers are keen to make the bout happen.  

Read on for updates.

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Pacquiao-Khan Rumours Surface

Friday, May 22

As reported by Gareth Davies of the Daily Telegraph, the lucrative Las Vegas showdown between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather caught the eye of Dubai’s money men, who want to bring a similar spectacle to their homeland.

Bob Arum, the Filipino’s promoter, is quoted in the piece and reveals there has been plenty of interest in Manny from the Middle East. He also revealed that the prospect of his man fighting Khan is “a possibility”:

"

I just had a delegation in from Dubai trying to talk to me about a Manny Pacquiao fight some time early next year in Dubai. That would be interesting.

One of the names they suggested as an opponent is Amir Khan. That would be a possibility. We'll have to see. I would think that Manny, if everything goes right with the surgery, would look to be back in early 2016, maybe in Dubai. I don't want to rush him.

Apparently there's great interest from Dubai in doing big-time boxing there. With the Emirate airline making regular flights from the UK to Dubai, it's a great place for British fight fans to watch a fight.

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Al Bello/Getty Images

Indeed, much will depend on how Pacquiao recovers from his operation to repair a torn rotator cuff. The Filipino clearly wasn’t at full tilt during his bout against Mayweather, and to rush back at his age would be a major risk if he is looking to continue fighting on.

Khan’s stock is certainly on the rise, and he also seems to have plenty of options moving forward. First, he needs to beat American Chris Algieri on May 29, but the Brit has already revealed that Mayweather’s camp have been instigating talks about a potential scrap further down the line, per Adam Jones of talkSPORT.

If Khan can emerge with a classy victory against his upcoming opponent, then he is primed to land a fight against an elite opponent. Whether the bright lights of Vegas or the enticing prospect of Dubai have the stronger allure remains to be seen.