Manny Pacquiao's camp are in talks with the Amir Khan team over a 2016 fight
Monday 28 September 2015 13:48, UK
British welterweight Amir Khan could be set for a high-profile clash with all-time great Manny Pacquiao in the first part of 2016.
Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum says he is currently in negotiations with the Khan camp and that a fight in Las Vegas could be a possibility.
Pacquiao injured his shoulder during his points loss to Floyd Mayweather in May but is now recovering after surgery on a torn rotator cuff and should be able to return to the ring next year.
And Arum told Telegraph Sport: "We were planning for Manny Pacquiao to fight at the end of February or, at the latest, the first two weeks in April.
"March is out of the question because of a big college basketball tournament in the United States. That gets all the ink at the time.
"I'm in the process of having negotiations with Amir Khan's uncle and his lawyer, Robert Davis, and those negotiations are ongoing.
"I know there was a report that Khan was coming here (to the US) to make a deal with Ruslan Provodnikov, but he assured me that was not the case."
And Arum added that Khan is currently the only potential opponent for Pacquiao who is considering.
"I don't negotiate with two people at the same time," he added. "I think that's unethical.
"I'm in the process of negotiating for an Amir Khan fight against Manny Pacquiao.
"I'm not saying necessarily that the negotiations will be successful, although I believe that everybody is negotiating in good faith. While those negotiations are going on, I'm not going to discuss any other opponent for Manny Pacquiao.
"There is a possibility that it could happen in Dubai, but I think it's more likely it will happen in Las Vegas."
The 28-year-old Khan has also been absent from the ring since May, when he defeated Chris Algieri on points to retain his WBC Silver Welterweight title.
Khan had been hoping to fight Mayweather himself but the American has now retired after his win over Andre Berto earlier this month.
But a fight against the 36-year-old Pacquiao would be a fantastic opportunity for Khan to secure a signature victory against a boxing great.
