Pacman open to fight Khan

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao doesn’t seem to have any problems at all having Amir Khan as his next opponent sometime in February or April next year.

“Okay naman (It’s okay),” said Pacquiao, back in the swing of things more than four months after the surgery on the torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder. 

But it will all depend on the negotiations.

“Wala pa. Nag-uusap pa sila (Nothing yet. They’re still talking),” Pacquiao told The STAR.

Pacquiao said he has spoken to his promoter Bob Arum who’s already in talks with the 28-year-old British-Pakistani about a possible fight.

The Filipino superstar was asked if he’s aware of the negotiations.

“Yes. I spoke to Bob,” he said. 

Arum said whatever comes out of his talks with Khan will be presented to Pacquiao, who underwent MRI last Monday, and he said it was a “successful” procedure.

From the hospital, he played basketball for nearly two hours.

The 36-year-old Pacquiao said nothing is definite yet regarding the details of his next fight except that it will happen no later than April.

“Wala pa naman final,” he said in his usual one-liners.

Arum has the 28-year-old Khan on top of his list, which includes Kell Brook, Terence Crawford, Lucas Matthysse and Juan Manuel Marquez.

Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, said he likes Danny Garcia or Marquez.

“Kahit sino (Whoever),” said Pacquiao, adding that as always, he’s ready to face any boxer thrown in front of him.

“Huwag lang wrestler (But not a wrestler),” he said.

Khan, who used to train alongside Pacquiao under Roach, admitted that he’s in talks with Arum regarding a Pacquiao fight.

“I can confirm that my team has been negotiating with Bob Arum; so far everything is going smooth,” he told The National, an English paper based in Abu Dhabi.

“The contracts are being negotiated and, if everything is agreed, Manny Pacquiao will be my next opponent,” said Khan.

Meanwhile, officials of the Powervit Agilas, who will represent the Philippines in the Asean Basketball League (ABL), will find it impossible to make Pacquiao play for the team.

Pacquiao is playing coach of Mahindra (formerly Kia) in the Philippine Basketball Association, and under PBA guidelines he can’t play for any other league.

Unless perhaps if it’s the PBA D-League.

“Hindi puwede (It can’t be),” said PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial, adding that he has spoken to Mahindra team manager Erik Pineda on the matter.