Amir Khan Expects Manny Pacquiao Fight, Would 'Grab' Danny Garcia Rematch

Amir Khan is confident a fight between him and Manny Pacquiao can be organised and believes it would be "massive" if it were staged in the Middle East.   

In the wake of Khan being overlooked to be Floyd Mayweather's next opponent, Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum suggested that the Briton and the Filipino could fight in early 2016, per Gareth A. Davies of the Daily Telegraph.

Pac-Man is currently recovering from surgery on the shoulder injury that hampered him as he lost to Mayweather back in May, but he should be fit to fight next year, per Davies.

Khan is eager to be Pacquiao's next opponent, and he believes the fight would create huge buzz, especially if it was staged in the Middle East, per Dubai Eye 103.8's Sports Tonight show (h/t the MailOnline's Joe Strange): 

"

I think the fight can happen. If it makes sense financially for both of us, then I think the fight will definitely take place. ... Fighting-style wise, Manny wasn't at his best against a defensive Mayweather, but with me I'm a totally different fighter. We both like to fight, move and both have tremendous hand speed. I think it would be amazing. I'd love to take that fight.

It would be massive in the UAE, but there are other few places. Qatar is one that is interested in me fighting over there as well as Dubai and Abu Dhabi. All the major sports are going over there now, so why not take boxing there. Starting off with Amir Khan versus Manny Pacquiao would be massive out there. ... I think it would be one of the biggest fights ever.

"

Khan also highlighted the link between him and Pacquiao as a massive draw—the pair used to train together under Freddie Roach—along with the large English, Pakistani and Filipino populations in the United Arab Emirates.

As Khan mentions, Pacquiao was not at his best in May's highly anticipated clash with Mayweather which turned out to be a major disappointment.

Following Money's triumph in Las Vegas, Khan looked to be the leading welterweight contender to be the American's next opponent, but he was overlooked in place of the far less deserving Andre Berto, per ESPN.com's Dan Rafael.

A fight with Pacquiao would be some consolation. The 36-year-old eight-division champion is still one of the biggest draws in boxing, and a clash between him with Khan would indeed be hotly anticipated. 

It should be exciting. The pair are both fast and combative, and Khan's relative youth—he's 28—could help him bridge the gap that exists between him and Pacquiao in talent terms. 

Khan is in some decent form having won five fights in a row, most recently against Chris Algieri. 

The Bolton-born fighter may yet prepare for a clash against Pacquiao with a rematch against Danny Garcia.

Khan lost to the American at light welterweight in 2012, but he is eager for the chance to avenge the defeat.

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Neither fighter has a bout set for the rest of the year, and Khan's enthusiasm is clear, per Dubai Eye 103.8 (h/t Edward Chaykovsky of BoxingScene.com): "I’d like to fight Danny Garcia again. If that option came up, I’d grab it with both hands. That’s a fight I’d like to take."

With Mayweather's fight against Berto set to be his 49th and final time in the ring, Khan has seemingly run out of opportunities to take on the undefeated champion.

But he is not short of potential opponents, and a clash with Pacquiao would perhaps be career-defining for the Englishman.