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Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan to fight in April

Last updated on .From the section Boxingcomments224

Pacquiao and Khan
In 2015, Khan said he was being lined up to fight Pacquiao but that the veteran did not want to face him

WBO world welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao will fight Great Britain's Amir Khan on 23 April.

The bout has been arranged after Pacquiao's followers on Twitter voted Khan as the opponent they would like to see the Filipino fight next.

"This is what the fans wanted," Pacquiao, 38, said on social media.external-link

Khan, 30, also confirmed the fightexternal-link but, although Pacquiao has said his next fight would be in the United Arab Emirates, no venue has been announced.

Speaking on a social media video, Khan said the UK, Dubai and US were being looked at as possible locations and that they "should find out in the next couple of days".

The Briton, who won silver as a lightweight at the 2004 Olympics, beat compatriot Kell Brook, Australia's Jeff Horn and American Terence Crawford with 48% of the vote carried out by Pacquiao.

Khan's last fight was in May 2016 when he was knocked out by Mexican Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez.

Six-weight world champion Pacquiao retired in April last year but returned to claim his belt by beating Jessie Vargas in November.

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Analysis

BBC Sport's Luke Reddy

Khan's typically fast work will come up against a man who - in his prime, at least - dazzled the world with his own hand speed.

Pacquiao of course is still a world champion, but there will be some British fight fans who would rather see Khan face off against bitter rival Kell Brook - who himself has gone elsewhere and meets Errol Spence in May.

Fans of trash talk may also be disappointed as a clear respect exists in the Khan-Pacquiao relationship - the pair have sparred one another under trainer Freddie Roach, whom Khan left in 2012.

There is no doubt Pacquiao's standing in the sport will give Khan the opportunity to take a giant leap forward from his brutal KO defeat by Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez last time out.

One point on the marked date - 23 April is a Sunday. So it does look like this will take place east of the UK, so the time difference will suit British and American viewers on a Saturday night.

Will it happen? It's a tight turnaround for two stellar names, especially accounting for the huge promotional commitments they will also have to squeeze in. If it does of course, fans can look forward to Nicola Adams, Ricky Burns, Khan and Anthony Joshua fighting on successive weekends.

Comments

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224 comments

  • Comment posted by User0871096436, at 07:15 26 Feb 2017

    Khan will get slapped daft by manny! I'd rather see khans missus and his mum go 3 rounds! Then the winner take on that Irish fella mcgregor!

  • Comment posted by J3YB33, at 07:19 26 Feb 2017

    This should be good for a bit of a laugh. Impressed Pac Man still has the will to step into the ring. Amir Khan has a lot to prove, and should be really flattered to have been given this fight. Lets hope he takes it seriously, instead of airing his domestic issues to the Daily Mail.

  • Comment posted by OmNom, at 07:06 26 Feb 2017

    One last payday for Amir Khan? This fight should've happened 5 years ago when Khan was still a promising boxer.

    Still, I expect him to be knocked out by Pacman...

  • Comment posted by Liampr, at 07:42 26 Feb 2017

    Merx66 - you're the only one bringing up race & religion. Chip on shoulder?

    Everyone else just talking about the fight!

  • Comment posted by Paparizla, at 07:25 26 Feb 2017

    4. Merkx66 when you referred to 'so many comments from the arm chair people and haters' who where you referring to as you as you where only the 4th person to comment?!?!?

  • Comment posted by Paparizla, at 07:21 26 Feb 2017

    4 merkx66 your completely deluded it does not make me a hater for expressing a view as to the outcome of this fight. khans record speaks for itself his glass chin lets him down repeatedly. He is a skilled and stylish boxer but one who constantly disappoints as he cant stay on his feet. Expressing this view does not make me a hater, as will be proven when he fails to make round 8

  • Comment posted by Jay74, at 07:27 26 Feb 2017

    Is Manny planning to fight blindfolded to turn it into a contest?

    Wouldn't bother subscribing for this one otherwise. It will cost you about £30 a minute.

  • Comment posted by daver, at 07:27 26 Feb 2017

    Wonder how much Khan's going to spend on a pair of shorts to wipe the ring floor with this time?

  • Comment posted by The Big Cook, at 07:33 26 Feb 2017

    Amir Khan't afford to stand toe toe with Manny. He is bloomin fast though is Khan and he was doing well against Canelo until the 5th...when he stopped doing what was working in the first 4 rounds and got close and tried to out punch his opponent. His best chance is speed and movement. If he tries anything else...he will be ended..and quick.

  • Comment posted by John Blake, at 08:23 26 Feb 2017

    Its a joke. Khan shouldn't be in the same room let alone ring.

  • Comment posted by User0715558875, at 07:49 26 Feb 2017

    Hope Khan does well but his chin has been his problem and will let him down again

  • Comment posted by Fozzy87 , at 07:10 26 Feb 2017

    It's hard to get excited for the sport now days, same with football, too much money, too much politics and too many idiots like Fury.

  • Comment posted by Wayne King, at 09:53 26 Feb 2017

    Two fighters past their best. One a true champion, the other a brilliant amateur who didn't produce it when matched against the world's best professionals.

  • Comment posted by Baz, at 07:50 26 Feb 2017

    Rich-D doing Khan a massive disservice comparing him to Fraudly, at least Khan can say he held world titles and dodgy chin or not Khan hasnt been in a stinker of a fight :-)

  • Comment posted by Trigg, at 12:06 26 Feb 2017

    If you think Khan has a glass jaw you're ignorant to boxing. Khan doesn't get the respect he deserves from the British public, the Mexicans think a lot of Khan for a reason. He has actively looked to challenge only the toughest of opponents and where he has been knocked out he has been hit with shots that would have k/o'd 95% of boxers. Look at his cv of opponents and give him some respect.

  • Comment posted by Rich-D, at 07:41 26 Feb 2017

    Oh, and hopefully it's aired on mainstream Sky as nobody in their right mind would pay to watch this as a box office event!

  • Comment posted by Michael182, at 09:25 26 Feb 2017

    Not the best chin but an entertaining boxer with a decent record, I don't understand the negativity he attracts.

    The same haters seem to worship KB who is also a decent boxer but has only had one World class opponent in his career and what happened there?

  • Comment posted by User0169724724, at 09:39 26 Feb 2017

    @59 PakJam

    Do you want some fish to go with that huge chip on your shoulder?

    Most British people have little time for loud mouth, arrogant, self centred show off's.

  • Comment posted by Fearless27, at 08:45 26 Feb 2017

    He's an Olympic silver medalist (at 17), two weight world champion with loads of decent wins and is generally in exciting fights (win or lose) so we should just enjoy him as one of the best British boxers we've got. Yeah he's made a few questionable decisions but he's done more than most British boxers and ALL of the keyboard warriors combined.

  • Comment posted by Just Pete, at 08:28 26 Feb 2017

    Khan will get knocked out, again. Manny is too quick and clever, he only needs to graze that chin.

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