Manny Pacquiao Welcomes Fight Versus British Amir Khan In England
If the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao super fight doesn’t happen, the Filipino is willing to take on other challengers in 2015 including Amir Khan. The highly-anticipated bout between the undefeated American and the Filipino pugilist is still the most appealing pairing for boxing fans from around the world but a match-up between the British boxer and Pacquiao should also garner huge hype and attention especially if it happens in the home country of Khan.
Once upon a time, both Pacquiao and Khan trained under Freddie Roach’s Wild Card stable. Both fighters consider each other as good friends but in boxing, friendship can be set aside especially if a big money fight is involved.
“A fight with Amir would be an exciting fight,” Pacquiao said in via The Telegraph when asked of the prospect of fighting the British boxer. “I can fight him anywhere, even in England.”
Before any formal discussion of the probable fight between Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs) and Khan (29-3-0, 19 KOs), both fighters have to get through separate opponents later this year. Pacquiao fights undefeated American Chris Algieri (20-0-0, 8 KOs) on Nov. 23 in Macau for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) World welterweight title while Khan faces Devon Alexander (26-2-0, 14 KOs) on Dec. 13 in Las Vegas, Nevada for the World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver welterweight crown.
Arguably One of the Biggest Fights in Britain
Could the probable Pacquiao vs. Khan bout be the biggest ever boxing event on English soil? A look back at the past match-ups include English Ricky Hatton winning over Australian Kostya Tszyu on June 4, 2005; Hatton defeating Mexican Juan Lazcano on May 5, 2008; and American Mike Tyson dominating Julius Francis with a 2nd round TKO over Julius Francis on Jan. 29, 2000 among the big bouts that happened in the United Kingdom.
Even Muhammad Ali, considered the greatest fighter of all the time, fought in the U.K. thrice— two times against Henry Cooper on June 18, 1963 and May 21, 1966 and once against Brian London on Aug. 6, 1966. Ali won all fights via KO or TKO.
Both Pacquiao and Khan has a large following in the United Kingdom. It’s already a given that Khan is largely popular in the U.K. being from that country. The 27-year-old boxer was born in Bolton, Lancashire, United Kingdom. Meanwhile, Pacquiao can bank on the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos living and working in the U.K.
Boxing fans want the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao bout in 2015; however, a Pacquiao vs. Khan match-up is still a good back-up option and will be a good draw especially if it happens on British soil.
