by Agence France-Presse
Eight-time division champion and Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and former sparring partner Amir Khan confirmed separately via their Twitter accounts that they would face each other on April 23.
Pacquiao tweeted: “Negotiations between team Pacquiao and team Khan have come to terms for the April 23 bout as this is what the fans wanted.#PacquiaoKhan”
Negotiations between team Pacquiao and team Khan have come to terms for the April 23 bout as this is what the fans wanted. #PacquiaoKhan
— Manny Pacquiao (@mannypacquiao) February 26, 2017
Khan, 30, a few minutes later posted on his official Twitter feed: “My team and I have agreed terms with Manny Pacquiao and his team for a super fight #pacquiaokhan #April23rd”
My team an I have agreed terms with Manny Pacquiao and his team for a super fight #pacquiaokhan #April23rd
— Amir Khan (@amirkingkhan) February 26, 2017
Neither of them gave a venue for the match but Pacquiao’s American promoter, Bob Arum, was previously quoted of saying via ESPN that “Manny is trying to get a fight done in the United Arab Emirates”. Spokesmen for the World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Pacquiao could not immediately be contacted for comment.
Pacquiao, 38, previously confirmed on Twitter that he was “in negotiations” to face Khan despite Arum’s own efforts to arrange a fight with Australian Jeff Horn in April. Pacquiao tweeted on February 11: “See you in UAE for my next fight. #TeamPacquiao”.
See you in UAE for my next fight. #TeamPacquiao pic.twitter.com/AioncFnlrV
— Manny Pacquiao (@mannypacquiao) February 12, 2017
He also posted a poll on his offical Twitter feed asking his 110,000-plus followers to choose either Horn, Khan, American Terence Crawford or Briton Kell Brook as his next opponent.
Who do you want me to fight next in the UAE?
— Manny Pacquiao (@mannypacquiao) February 12, 2017
