Pacquiao-Khan showdown is possible: Arum

A bout between former sparring partners Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan is possible for 2016, according to Top Rank chief executive Bob Arum.

Khan, who was snubbed by unbeaten American Floyd Mayweather Jr. for a September 12 fight date, has turned his attention to Pacquiao, his former stable mate back when they were both trained by Freddie Roach.

"If he (Mayweather) is not going to man up and fight me, then I'll have to fight Manny Pacquiao or someone like that," Khan said in a recent interview. "I really believe that fight can be made easily. I think Manny is a man and he would definitely take that fight."

In an interview with The Telegraph, Arum said he can make it happen.

"This kid, Amir Khan, keeps shooting his mouth off about Manny Pacquiao," he said. "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," he added.

But Arum made it clear that the fight can't happen in 2015 as Pacquiao is still recovering from the shoulder injury that he sustained while training for his May 2 "Fight of the Century" against Mayweather. It can be held next year in the Middle East, said the promoter.

"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," said Arum.

One thing that Arum is sure of is that Pacquiao will win against Khan.

"It's a good fight. Manny beats him, though, in my opinion," he said. "Manny is getting up in age, so you never know what's going to happen. But I think he hits too hard for Khan."

Arum does feel that Khan should have been given the chance to fight Mayweather, and is disappointed that the unbeaten American chose Andre Berto as his opponent.

"That's a farce," Arum said of the Mayweather-Berto match-up. "Mayweather should have fought Khan next. It would have been an interesting fight."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Report: Pacquiao-Mayweather close to a done deal

MANILA, Philippines – The highly anticipated boxing mega-fight between superstars Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao and unbeaten American Floyd Mayweather Jr. is reportedly being finalized.

Gareth A Davies of The Telegraph reported that Pacquiao has "completed his contractual agreements," and that Mayweather "is set to sign" as well.

The fight is expected to be announced in the coming days, Davies reported, and it is possible that Mayweather himself could make the announcement ahead of the tip-off of the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday (Monday in Manila).

Davies cited a source close to Pacquiao who said the "Pacman" has "100 percent signed his side of the deal."

"It is now over to Mayweather to close the deal and announce the fight," the source added.

If the fight pushes through, it will likely be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 2 and be worth some $250-million.

ESPN.com's boxing writer Dan Rafael, however, said fight fans could not yet celebrate despite the report. "Everyone remain calm," he tweeted.

"Mayweather-Pacquiao is nearing (the) finish line one way or other, but two sources involved said it is not done at this point," Rafael said.

Rafael was also informed by a source directly involved in the negotiations that Mayweather is "the one we need to worry about, not Manny."

Pacquiao last week began light training in his hometown of General Santos City in anticipation of his ring return.

The "Pacman" had triggered discussions when he called out Mayweather following his November 2014 demolition of Chris Algieri in Macau, and Mayweather responded by declaring he wants to fight the Filipino star on May 2.

Negotiations occurred in stops-and-starts, with Pacquiao at one point saying he had agreed to all terms and conditions, while Mayweather reiterated through social media that the fight has yet to be finalized.

The two superstar boxers also met by chance in a Miami Heat-Milwaukee Bucks game in Miami in late January, and then talked for an hour in Pacquiao's hotel suite that same night.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com