Manny Pacquiao vs Amir Khan: Boxers in negotiations for 2016 fight in Las Vegas

Manny Pacquiao is locked in discussions over a Las Vegas fight with Amir Khan in 2016, with promoter Bob Arum confirming "negotiations" with the Brit boxer were ongoing. The Filipino has not fought since losing to Floyd Mayweather and his subsequent shoulder surgery, but his comeback could be against Khan next year.

The Top Rank chief is currently exclusively discussing terms with Khan over a potential fight in either February or April with the possibility of the bout taking place in Duabi, though Nevada is expected to host the event. Welterweight Khan's last fight saw him beating Chris Algieri in May, and he has long campaigned for a meeting with Pacquiao.

"We were planning for Manny Pacquiao to fight at the end of February, or at the latest, the first two weeks in April," Arum told The Daily Telegraph. "March is out of the question because of a big college basketball tournament in the United States. That gets all the ink at the time.

"I'm in the process of having negotiations with Amir Khan's uncle and his lawyer, Robert Davis, and those negotiations are ongoing. I know there was a report that Khan was coming here to make a deal with Ruslan Provodnikov, but he assured me that was not the case.

"I don't negotiate with two people at the same time," Arum added, confirming that Khan was currently the only contender to be Pacquiao's next opponent. "I think that's unethical. I'm in the process of negotiating for an Amir Khan fight against Manny Pacquiao.

"I'm not saying necessarily that the negotiations will be successful, although I believe that everybody is negotiating in good faith. While those negotiations are ­going on, I'm not going to discuss any other opponent for Manny Pacquiao. There is a possibility that it could happen in Dubai, but I think it's more likely it will happen in Las Vegas."

Pacquiao is expected to imminently begin rehabilitation from having shoulder surgery, following his unanimous points defeat to Mayweather. The 36-year-old's injury was a pre-existing condition, however it is not expected to signal the end of his career.

Khan's absence from boxing could be extended to a year should he agree an April deal to fight Pacquiao and put off securing a meeting with IBF world champion Kell Brook. The Bolton-born fighter missed out on being the final opponent of Mayweather's professional career and he looks set to forgo a fight during the festive period in order to prepare for a fight with Pacquiao that would represent the biggest of his career.