Who stands to get the lion’s share of the pot seems to be the only issue that prevents former sparmates Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan from signing their names above the dotted line.
Pacquiao said late Sunday in a rented house in Dasmariñas Village that Khan, who also used to be trained by Freddie Roach, that the British puncher appears to be reluctant to face him in an actual fight.
“It doesn’t sound as if he really wants to fight (me),” said Pacquiao, who has already reserved the Dec. 1 date for his ring return.
Pacquiao said the 31-year-old Khan wants much more than what he truly deserves.
Being boxing’s only eight-division world champion, Pacquiao, who turns 40 on Dec. 17, remains a hot property.
Khan, fresh from dominating Samuel Vargas of Colombia over the weekend in Birmingham, is hot on the comeback trail and doesn’t hold a title unlike the Filipino legend.
Last July in Malaysia, Pacquio battered Argentine Lucas Matthysse into submission to capture the World Boxing Association welterweight belt.
A few weeks later, Matthysse, who was knocked down thrice by Pacquiao, announced his retirement.
However, Khan feels that he also has an ace up his sleeve in the ongoing negotiations with Pacquiao.
“Manny needs to know I’ve got other options — I have Kell Brook as well,” he said, referring to his fellow British fighter.
“Manny can’t price himself out, he’s not going to make the same kind of money fighting anyone else. That’s my message to Manny,” said Khan, who will also celebrate his birthday nine days before Pacquiao.
British promoter Eddie Hearn, whose outfit is targeting to sign up Pacquiao, said a Plan B is in place for Khan in case the proposed Pacquiao bout falls through.
But it is Pacquiao who Khan badly wants as he attempts to add a big name on his list of victims, stressing that a win over his ex-stablemate would be “massive.”
As Khan alleges that it is Pacquiao who is the more demanding, the 2004 Olympics silver medalist doesn’t seem to understand and accept that luxury always comes with a hefty price tag.
Courtesy of Nick Giongco, Manila Bulletin. Follow Nick on Twitter @NickSpeaks
