MANNY TALKS
Khan warns old sparring partner Pacquiao not to price himself out of a £20M super-fight as hopes of a Brit battle against Brook go on thebackburner
AMIR KHAN has warned Manny Pacquiao he could price himself out of a super-fight because of his £10million purse demands.
Pacquiao wants over half of the predicted £20m pot the clash would generate and Khan says the Filipino legend cannot demand that much.
Khan wants Pacquiao next after comfortably beating Samuel Vargas by a unanimous points decision, but knows he would get a bigger purse for finally facing bitter British rival Kell Brook.
“Manny needs to know I’ve got other options,” he said. “I have Kell Brook as well.
“Manny can’t price himself out, he’s not going to make the same kind of money fighting anyone else. That’s my message to Manny.
“I’m a businessman as well as a fighter, and I will go with whatever is the best fight financially.”
For all his talk, Khan is undeniably drawn towards Pacquiao, the only fighter to win world titles at eight weights, because beating him would seal his legacy. “Manny is a legend,” said Khan, who trained with Pacquiao at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym. “To beat an eight-weight world champion would be massive.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn has opened talks with Pacquiao, who claims he is a free agent and no longer tied to Bob Arum’s Top Rank, and says he may even sign him.
Hearn feels a fight between Pacquiao and Khan would need a venue abroad to help fund it because of Pacman’s demands.
Hearn, who also promotes Brook, said: “The amount of money in both fights, if they took place in the UK, is very similar.
“But Amir would get more of the pot against Kell Brook than against Manny Pacquiao.
“I think Kell is willing to accept a lesser purse split and fight at 147 pounds. “Right now the money that Manny Pacquiao wants makes me feel it’s an international fight – i.e. you need some funding.
“Our government doesn’t fund fights and he’s had funding for his last two – Kuala Lumpur and Brisbane.”
Khan, 31, proved he is still box office with his thrilling win over Vargas, and he floored the Colombian in the second and third rounds, in between being put down himself.
Khan showed his trademark speed and trademark vulnerability, when he was decked with a huge overhand right at the end of the second.
He easily won on the scorecards 119-108, 119-109 and 118-110, and trainer Joe Goossen hailed his display as “fantastic” and “brilliant”.
Although that was perhaps overdoing it, Khan says he is ready for Pacquiao or Brook, who was ringside at Arena Birmingham.
“I’m happy with my performance,” said the former unified light-welterweight champ. “Apart from the knockdown, everything went well. I’m ready for whoever is next.”
Yet Vargas, who was battered all night by Khan, warned Pacquiao would be too strong, even at 39.
“Pacquiao is a dangerous guy,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how old he is, Pacquiao has too much power.”