Manny Pacquiao is still engaged in talks for the long-awaited super fight against Floyd Mayweather, but the Filipino boxing icon might end up facing Amir Khan instead of the reigning pound-for-pound king.
Pacquiao recently went to London to visit Prince Harry at Buckingham Palace, and also had an opportunity to meet Khan, who is also eyeing a showdown with Mayweather this year.
Michael Koncz, Pacquiao's adviser, said that the potential record-breaking showdown against Mayweather remains their top priority at this point, but admitted that Khan is their next best option if the negotiation for the fight against the unbeaten champion falls through.
"Just in case Floyd doesn't come through we regard Amir as the best possible alternative," Koncz told the Daily Mail Online. "He and Manny would make for a very exciting fight and Manny would be more than happy to do it at Wembley Stadium."
Top Rank Promotions CEO Bob Arum also confirmed to ESPN that Khan is an option for Pacquiao in case Mayweather decides to go into another direction. Arum also revealed that Prince Harry himself is looking to stage a fight featuring Pacquiao in London this year.
"Prince Harry has a group looking to put on a Manny Pacquiao fight in London," Arum said. "Khan would certainly make sense, and it's an interesting fight. But remember -- all that is a backup plan. We are still trying to nail down the Mayweather fight. We need Mayweather to say yes."
Pacquiao, the reigning World Boxing Organization welterweight champion, has reportedly agreed to all terms proposed by Mayweather's camp for the fight, including a 60-40 fight purse split. Pacquiao also agreed to undergo random drug testing and to stage the fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Arum and Pacquiao recently said that they will wait for a response from Mayweather until the end of January because they need time to promote the fight, or time to look for a new opponent.
Khan, who defeated Devon Alexander and Luis Collazo in convincing fashions last year, previously sparred with Pacquiao when the Briton boxer was still under Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.
Khan said that he still has a good relationship with Pacquiao despite parting ways with Roach, but the Bolton, England native insisted that they are willing to face each other just to give boxing fans a good fight.
The 28-year-old former world champion is reportedly under influential adviser Al Haymon, but Arum said that Khan is also in contract with Golden Boy Promotions, which means that a Pacquiao-Khan showdown is not an impossible option for both camps.
