Khan ready to take on the power of Pacman

YOUR money or your life? Like the highwaymen of yore in certain parts of Britain, Eddie Hearn put the pistol to Amir Khan’s head in the wee hours of a Midlands Sunday morning. ‘Your choice,’ said the promoter. ‘A fortune for a local fight with Kell Brook or global fame for braving the legend of Manny Pacquiao.’ Or words to that effect. Gallant gentleman of the world that he is, Khan picked the fight which could define — if not exactly his very existence — his life as a boxer. Rather than the richer purse dangling from a winnable domestic spat, the British Olympic silver medallist stated his preference for a hazardous shot at a golden legacy. Hearn spelled it out after Khan had risen from the canvas to knock down Samuel Vargas more than once en route to winning a second fight of his comeback, which proved more testing than he expected. ‘Pacquiao will be more expensive,’ said Fast Eddie. ‘Amir can make more from a bigger share of the take against Kell. But a fight against Manny comes with international recognition.’ Hearn is hoping to add Pacquiao to his Matchroom stable. That would enable him to juggle these three star welterweights into two huge fights, with the simpler equation being the winner between Khan and Brook taking on the fabled Philippines senator. His ideal calendar would be Khan v Brook under Cardiff’s Principality Stadium roof this December followed by one of those two against Pacquiao next spring, probably in Las Vegas. Khan would prefer a reversal of those fortunes. He said: ‘Pacquiao is my first pick. Yes, boxing is a business but Manny would be the super-fight I’ve always wanted. He would also bring me the chance to win my third world title.’ If and when it comes to Pacquiao, and to a lesser extent Brook, Khan may have to modify his approach. Not that Khan will be deterred, not one iota.