Amir Khan wants to take on Manny Pacquiao ‘wherever’

Briton keen to fight sparring mate in Dubai but understands the emirate has limitations, he tells Omar Al Raisi.

Apart from fighting Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan also wants to take on Floyd Mayweather. Alex Livesey / Getty Images

Floyd Mayweather Jr will not be the next opponent for Amir Khan.
Manny Pacquiao, however, could be.
Following perhaps his most impressive fight, a unanimous decision over Luis Collazo in Las Vegas as part of the Mayweather undercard on May 1, Khan is looking at November or December for his next fight.
Pacquiao also is considering that time frame for his next bout.
Coincidence?
"Oscar De La Hoya and Bob Arum have put their differences aside and they want to work together and co-promote fights in the future and why not an Amir Khan and Manny Pacquiao fight to do that?" Khan said. "We have a good history together; we both were trained by Freddie Roach, we sparred together hundreds of times, we are friends.
"But boxing is a business and I want to fight him and beat him and then fight Floyd Mayweather in May next year. That's my target."
His advisor, Al Haymon, identified a Pacquiao fight as Khan's next challenge, one that could take his career to another level. Pacquiao remains one of the biggest draws in the world, behind only Mayweather.
"Official talks have already been started between our camps," said Khan, the Briton of Pakistani heritage.
"We are both fighting next in November or December, so everything is perfect for us to fight. It's speed, explosiveness and entertainment from both fighters and this is what fans want from boxing right now."
Unlike Mayweather, who has not fought outside Las Vegas since 2005, Pacquiao has been adventurous in his use of venues for his fights, having climbed into the ring in Las Vegas, New York, Macau, the Philippines and Texas.
Khan said he would meet Pacquiao anywhere. Perhaps even Dubai, where he has hoped to bring a big fight for the past few years.
"I'm ready to fight wherever, whether it's in Vegas or Macau or Dubai," he said.
"I think because of our fan bases, Dubai would be the perfect location, but if I'm being honest, the officials there are not fully ready to host a boxing event of this magnitude.
"Every boxer wants to fight in Dubai, but it's not happening."
Boxers rarely spar with a direct competitor to avoid giving away too much, but Khan and Pacquiao have spent hours in the same ring and know each other well, even if they have never met for an official bout.
"I think it's an advantage, as I know what to expect when I'm in the ring with him," Khan said. "There will be no surprises. But at the same time, it will be tactical and a chess game, because we both will be waiting for the other's next move."
Khan, 27, believes he is faster and stronger since moving up to the welterweight division, 147 pounds, to defeat Collazo and improve his record to 29-3.
The Filipino champion is 56-5-2 in his busy career and, like Khan, is now fighting in the welterweight division.
"Manny is slowing down," Khan said. "As we have seen in his past three fights, he is not the same Manny."
Khan's most recent trip to Dubai was in December for the opening of a gym and he is keen to hold a training camp in Dubai this year, perhaps in August or September.
"Let's see if my schedule permits it," he said. "I would love to hold a training camp in Dubai and let my fans there watch me train. I love my fans in Dubai and I hope my wish to fight in Dubai can happen one day.
"I want to fight around the world, to increase my fan base. That's what Muhammad Ali did. He fought in Philippines, Africa and many other places. I want to be the people's champion."
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