MANILA, Philippines – A “disappointed” Amir Khan reportedly pulled out of negotiations for a fight with Manny Pacquiao.
In a report by The National, the British star expressed dismay over what he claimed as delays caused by Pacquiao’s camp in finalizing the bout, which is supposedly planned for next year.
"I'm really disappointed in Manny and his team," Khan told the newspaper. "They aren't playing ball. All that was left to do is to sign the contract. But they are stalling.”
Khan has set his sights on Pacquiao after repeatedly failing to land a much bigger fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., who recently retired from boxing. But it appears that his second option is also no longer feasible.
"I have pulled out of the negotiations. I am no longer fighting Manny Pacquiao. I am not going to wait around for Manny like I did for Mayweather. I need to fight and if they don't want to fight then that's fine, I have other targets," Khan stressed.
But Khan, interestingly a close friend of Pacquiao, isn’t closing the doors on a date with the Filipino icon, who used to be his sparring partner. In a recent tweet, Khan said all Pacquiao has to do is sign the contract.
Pacquiao fight could still happen if he signs the contract, but im also looking at other options
— Amir Khan (@AmirKingKhan) October 13, 2015 Pacquiao recently bared he is close to fully recovering from a shoulder injury he sustained while training for the Mayweather fight. He is expected to fight early next year before the May elections, wherein Pacquiao is gunning for a Senate seat.
Aside from Khan, boxers in Pacquiao’s radar include Timothy Bradley, Kell Brook and even Juan Manuel Marquez.