Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan ‘reach verbal agreement’ to fight in November

British boxer claims there is ‘strong possibility’ the fight will happen in Saudi Arabia at the end of this year or early 2020

‘Hopefully Manny beats up Keith Thurman the week after my fight,’ says Khan, who faces WBC Asian champion Neeraj Goyat in Jeddah on July 12

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Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao leaves his house in the morning to jog with fans and friends in Los Angeles, where he is training for his fight against Keith Thurman. Photo: AFP

Published: 1:40pm, 26 Jun 2019Updated: 10:55pm, 26 Jun 2019

Amir Khan has claimed he has reached a “verbal agreement” to fight Manny Pacquiao in Saudi Arabia in November.

The Filipino icon challenges for Keith Thurman’s WBA super welterweight belt in Las Vegas on July 20, while Britain’s Khan takes on WBC Asian champion Neeraj Goyat of India in Jeddah on July 12.

“End of this year, early next year, I want to make a big name world title challenge and there’s a strong possibility it could be here in Saudi Arabia against Pacquiao,” Khan was quoted as saying in The Daily Telegraph after a media session in Jeddah. “Hopefully, Manny beats up Keith Thurman the week after my fight. Then we’ll see what happens.

“A fight between us would set up boxing in the Middle East forever. It could lead to multiple championship fights taking place in the region. I intend to be at the forefront.”

Amir Khan during a media workout in Bolton, England. Photo: Reuters

Pacquiao and Khan are ex-training partners under Freddie Roach, and they frequently sparred at the Wildcard Boxing Gym in Los Angeles.

A welterweight fight between them had been agreed in 2017 before the deal collapsed.