Amir Khan sees Danny Garcia as the biggest available fight for him early in 2016 but is clinging to the hope a dream match-up with Manny Pacquiao can still happen in the spring.
Khan (31-3, 19 KOs), 28, says the chance to avenge a fourth round stoppage loss to American Garcia in 2012 is appealing as his team make plans for his next bout, expected to be early next year.
“Garcia would be an awesome fight, that fight would be something I would love to take and we will be looking at that,” Khan told ESPN, speaking from Doha. “There’s a lot of unfinished business.
“When I do fight it will be in January or February, I don’t know where, there’s a lot of interest in the UAE, there have been talks about doing an event here [UAE], but it depends where the best deal could be done.”
Bolton’s former world light-welterweight champion has altered his stance of waiting to see if a fight against Filipino Pacquiao – a champion of eight weight divisions – can be made. Pacquiao, 36, is recovering from shoulder surgery following his points defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr in May.
Khan has grown frustrated at the lack of progress in negotiations with former sparring partner Pacquiao, who says his next fight will be his last, after feeling American Mayweather overlooked him three times to fight other opponents.
And with other welterweights like Lamont Peterson [who fights this weekend], IBF champion Kell Brook [who defends his belt on October 24] and WBO title-holder Tim Bradley [who faces Brandon Rios on November 7] all with scheduled fights coming up, Khan admits Garcia is one of the best available opponents.
“It’s just a waiting game now, but I’m standing up for myself more after waiting so long for the Floyd Mayweather Jr fight and it not happening. I’m looking at other options because I don’t want to be waiting and that fight [against Pacquiao] not to happen.
“I’m just working on getting the best fight for myself and hopefully it will be Pacquiao but nothing has been moving forward. Pacquiao is a fight I really wanted but we have to look at other options. We’ve already put the word out I need a new opponent and hopefully will have something next week.”
