PINALALABAS ni dating WBA at IBF super lightweight champion Amir Khan ng United Kingdom na umatras si eight-division world titlist Manny Pacquiao na magdepensa sa kanya dahil batid ng Pinoy boxer na mahirap siyang kalaban.

Dapat nagsagupa sina Pacquiao at Khan noong nakaraang Abril sa Dubai sa halagang $38 milyon ngunit nakansela ang laban nang umatras ang promoter.

Pero para kay Khan, hindi isyu ang investor kung bakit nakasela ang laban nila ni Pacquiao kundi mas pinili ng Pilipino ang magaan na laban kay WBO at IBF No. 2 contender Jeff Horn ng Australia.

“I think Manny didn’t want to fight. He knew it was going to be a hard fight for him. We have known each other since 2008. We used to spar together all the time,” sabi ni Khan sa BoxingScene.com. “But since then, I’ve changed my fight style. He knows it is going to be a very hard fight for him, that’s why he’s probably thought I’ll fight somebody easy.”

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Ngunit naniniwala si Khan na matutuloy ang laban nila ni Pacquiao dahil tiyak na mas malaki ang magiging premyo ng Pilipinokung siya ang karibal lalo kung gagawin ang laban sa Great Britain.

“That’s why he’s fighting Australian Jeff Horn, who is an unknown fighter really. But I still think our fight will happen, because it makes good money. It’s a big financial fight,” diin ni Khan. “The Pacquiao fight could still happen. It wasn’t me who pulled out, he pulled out and fought an easy fight in Australia, probably for less money whereas the money on the table against me was a lot more. We are friends but if that happens, we have to put friendship aside.” (Gilbert Espeña)