Amir Khan says negotiations for a Manny Pacquiao fight have reopened with an in-principle agreement in place for the pair to face off in Saudi Arabia later this year.
The working date is November 9 at a venue in Jeddah. Khan is set to face India’s Neeraj Goyat in Saudi Arabia on July 12.
Former gym-mates Khan and Pacquaio have long been linked with the Brit actively pursuing the fight over the past few years.
The pair were in talks late last year before Khan accepted an offer to face WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford in the United States in April.
Pacquiao meanwhile accepted an assignment to face WBA welterweight champion Keith Thurman at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 20.
The 40-year-old Pacquiao will be a free agent after the Thurman fight and the Saudis are believed to be prepared to bankroll the fight, regardless of the result of the Thurman-Pacquia bout.
The 32-year-old Khan, who trained alongside Pacquiao under coach Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood a decade ago, saw a fight with Pacquiao fall through in 2017.
“There’s been lots of talk about me and Manny fighting for years, going back to when we were together under Freddie,” Khan said.
“It’s a fight I’d love and now it looks like it will finally happen. I want to get back in the mix. That’s why I took this fight so soon after Crawford.
“I’m only interested in big fights and a fight with Manny Pacquiao would definitely be a big fight.”
Khan’s clash with Goyat is being promoted as the latest extension of Pakistan’s rivalry with India, with Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan and India’s leader Narendra Modi both expected to be ringside.
“I’m a British Pakistani against an Indian and instead of the countries fighting on the border, why not take it into a boxing ring then shake hands afterwards and walk away?” Khan said.
In the main support bout heavyweight Hughie Fury will face former WBC heavyweight champ Samuel Peter.
