The publicist of Philippine boxing legend Manny Pacquiao has denied the claims of the latter signing a contract to take on British boxer Amir Khan in Saudi Arabia later this year.
On Tuesday, Khan — who beat Australia’s Billy Dib on 13 July to win the WBC international welterweight title — said that he had agreed to a deal to fight Pacquiao in Riyadh on 8 November. Khan also told British media the clash with Pacquiao would happen even if the 40-year-old were to lose to American Keith Thurman in Las Vegas on Saturday.
However, Pacquiao’s spokesperson Fred Sternberg told BBC Sport that “Manny has not signed any contract. As far as I know it hasn’t been even discussed. He’s been in training camp for the past eight weeks, four in the Philippines and four in the States, and he hasn’t met with Amir Khan during that time.”
Sternberg also said he did not know what prompted the Briton to make the claims. “That’s a question you need to ask Amir Khan,” he said.
In 2017, Khan and Pacquiao were slated to have a bout but an agreement could not be reached between the two.
Pacquiao has a record of 61 victories, seven defeats and two draws in a career of 24 years, whereas Khan has 34 wins and five defeats.