Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao denies talk of Khan fight in Saudi Arabia

Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao denies talk of Khan fight in Saudi Arabia
Philippines boxer Manny Pacquiao has said that rumours a fight with the UK's Amir Khan in Saudi Arabia are not true.
2 min read
17 July, 2019
Khan said he wants to fight his former Filipino sparring partners [Getty]
Manny Pacquiao's publicist has denied reports that the Filipino is planning a fight with the UK's Amir Khan in Saudi Arabia.

There have been rumours circulating in the boxing world that Pacquiao and Khan - two of the world's most best-known fighters - had signed a contract for a bout in Riyadh in November.

But Pacquiao's spokesperson Fred Sternberg told BBC on Wednesday that the Saudi fight is not signed.

"Manny has not signed any contract. As far as I know it hasn't been even discussed," he said.

Khan told British media on Tuesday that he had agreed to fight Pacquiao in Saudi Arabia on 8 November.

Asked why Khan had made such a claim, Sternberg said he did not know.

"That's a question you need to ask Amir Khan," he said.

Khan fought Australia's Billy Dib in Riyadh on the weekend, earning £7 million for his win.

The Bolton fighter has said that it has long been a dream of his to fight former sparring partner and Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao.

"When I sparred with him he was at his peak," said Khan. "I got good rounds with him and did really well. I have probably sparred between 200 and 300 rounds with him. He has slowed down a bit."

Pacquiao is hugely popular in the Philippines, along with the thousands of Filipinos in the Middle East.

Long closed off to public entertainment, Saudi Arabia has opened up cinemas and held high-profile sporting events such as WWE wrestling and boxing bouts.