As of now, Amir Khan is the lone name in the list of opponents for Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao when the eight-time division champ returns to the ring in 2016.
Khan was one of two potential opponents mentioned by the Pacquiao camp. The other boxer mentioned was Lucas Matthysse, but as everyone knows by now, the Argentine boxer has been scratched from the list after falling via 10th round knockout to Viktor Apostol last week.
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With Matthysse out, Khan becomes the leading contender, though Bob Arum is also considering some other names like Terence Crawford and Timothy Bradley Jr. Both are scheduled to fight before the year ends and their consideration could likely depend on the results of their matches.
But as far as Khan is concerned, he is 75 percent sure that the he and his former sparmate will face-off either in late March or early April 2016 before Pacquiao focuses on his political campaign.
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Pacquiao has announced that he will be running for a senate seat in the May 2016 Philippine elections. He also hinted that his return bout may likely be his last.
"Pacquiao is a fight I would like to have because styles makes fights," said Khan during an interview at the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Doha, Qatar. "Me and Pacquiao used to train together as well, spar together. We are friends but sometimes, you know, friends have to fight each other”
He adds: “I think it can happen. It's all about just doing the little things, contracts and stuff. I have left it to my team, my team are taking care of it, it's a good fight for me."
The Pacquiao camp is expected to announce the Filipino boxer’s official opponent this coming November or December.
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