KAILANGAN na lang manalo ni dating WBA at IBF super lightweight champion Amir Khan sa matibay na WBA NABA welterweight titlist Samuel Vargas ng Colombia sa Setyembre 8 sa Birmingham, England para masiguro ang laban niya sa eight division world titleholder na si Manny Pacquiao ng Pilipinas, sa Disyembre sa United Kingdom.
Nakikipagnegosyasyon na ang promoter ni Khan na si Eddie Hearn kay Pacquiao para sa malaking laban sa Principality Stadium sa Cardiff, Wales sa UK na tiyak dudumugin ng British boxing fans.
“A Manny Pacquiao fight would be massive anywhere in the world,” sabi ni Khan sa Sky Sports. “He is a good fighter, a slick fighter. He’s a huge name in boxing and I am sure if he came to the UK, the UK fans would want to come and see him.”
Dapat na naglaban sina Pacquiao at Khan noong Abril 2017 sa United Arab Emirates ngunit umatras ang promoter nang bantaan ni Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum na magkakaproblema ito dahil may eklusibong karapatan ang Top Rank sa Pinoy boxer.
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Kapwa dating sinanay ng Amerikanong trainer na si Freddie Roach sina Pacquiao at Khan kaya naging sparring partners sila sa Wildcard Gym sa Hollywood, California.
“There’s a lot of history between us,” ani Khan. “We’ve been sparring partners, we’ve trained together, we’ve got similar styles. People know that, but regardless of what happens in the fight, however long it goes, whether it goes the distance or doesn’t go the distance, it’s gonna be a war.”
Gusto ni Khan na muling maging kampeong pandaigdig kaya pinakilos na niya si Hearn para sa posibleng sagupaan nila ng Pinoy boxer na WBA welterweight champion ngayon.
“I wanna be a world champion again,” diin ni Khan. “That, in my opinion, makes more sense to me than anything. I wanna become a world champion again and to win that off someone like Manny Pacquiao would be amazing.”
“I can’t afford to look past this fight and I’m not really paying any attention to it,” sabi ni Khan hinggil sa laban kay Pacquiao. “But I have read a few things about Eddie talking to people and Eddie wanting me to fight before the end of the year, so let’s see. But I really do believe I am one of the few who can sell out a stadium in the UK. It’s more than just the stadium. It’s the personality and the person who sells that fight, and it’s the dance partner as well.”
-Gilbert Espeña
