Welterweight world titleholder Manny Pacquiao announced Wednesday night that he is negotiating his next fight to be against Amir Khan.

Top Rank chairman and promoter for Pacquiao, Bob Arum has made a deal for Pacquiao to defend the 147-pound belt against Australia’s Jeff Horn on April 22 in Brisbane, Australia.  However, Pacquiao and adviser Michael Koncz have also been talking about bringing Pacquiao’s next fight to the United Arab Emirates, and Pacquaio said 10 days ago that his next bout would be in the UAE.

Then on Wednesday night, he said England’s Khan, a well-known name and former junior welterweight titleholder who is of Pakistani descent, was the opponent he hoped to fight.

“My team and I are in negotiations with Amir Khan for our next fight. Further announcement coming soon,” Pacquiao wrote on social media.

“Whether it will happen or not, I just don’t know, because they have to come up with a large amount of money,” Arum said. “Manny seems to believe they will come up with the money. I have some reservations whether it will happen or not. If the money comes up, I will aid and abet the fight happening. But right now, I’m holding my powder. I don’t really know.”

Khan (31-4, 19 KOs), 30, has been trying for the past few years to land a fight with either Pacquiao — whom he knows very well and has sparred countless rounds with when they were both trained by Freddie Roach — or Floyd Mayweather.

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source: ESPN