As rumors persist of a possible threesome of fights involving Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, and Adrien Broner, Amir Khan once again faces being on the outside looking in.
Khan has been putting in the groundwork to eventually trade blows with Pacquiao all year, ever since linking up with Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn back in January.
Victories over Phil Lo Greco and Samuel Vargas have given Khan that winning feeling again. The final stop of his initial three-fight blueprint with Hearn was a huge match-up with the ‘Pacman’.
As talks were ongoing, Pacquiao met up with a certain former opponent in Mayweather. A major announcement was subsequently made in Tokyo, Japan,
Pacquiao and Mayweather stated their intentions to fight again, before both were then linked to a warm-up fight with Broner.
As a potential blockbuster with a legend threatens to elude Khan for the fourth time in his career, the Bolton man has urged Pacquiao to agree a huge clash with him before taking on Mayweather.
“I don’t think Pacquiao v Broner is a good fight. Broner has been beaten and had some hard fights,” Khan exclusively told World Boxing News.
“I mean, Maidana beat him comfortably, and I beat him. But then Mayweather fought Maidana.
“Another thing, I don’t know why Mayweather is always siding with Broner, as Broner is always talking s*** about him but Mayweather still has his back.
“It seems to me that Mayweather must want to see Broner get hurt by putting him in the ring with Manny Pacquiao. I think it’s a mismatch. It’s not like Broner has done anything lately.
“I think Manny Pacquiao will walk right through Broner. It’s not a bigger fight than me versus Pacquiao. Me versus Pacquiao is a massive fight, globally.
“The history between us, where we’ve had the opportunity to spar and train together. Maybe that’s the reason a fight with me puts fear in Pacquiao.
“People have always thought, ‘did Pacquiao get the better of me or did I get the better of Pacquiao in sparring’ – so why not let them see the fight live and see who wins?
“Manny is a global name and is massive in the sport of boxing. The fight has to happen for the fans, ” he added.
BROOK
Currently in possession of the WBA welterweight title, Pacquiao will ultimately call the shots. But if Mayweather is the one who eventually battles Broner, the door will then be ajar for Khan to swoop on his dream encounter.
An alternative is a UK collision on PPV against Kell Brook, although Khan is hoping to seal a fight with ‘The Special One’ at Wembley Stadium in the summer of 2019.
Phil Jay is Editor of World Boxing News. Follow on Twitter @PhilDJay
