Although it seemed imminent that Amir Khan would be getting first crack at probably welcoming back Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao to the boxing ring in early 2016, it seems that such is not yet a certainty.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum reveals via boxingscene.com there are two other boxers who stand as possible opponents for the boxer/lawmaker. One is a familiar name in Juan Manuel Marquez and the other is 32-year-old Lucas Matthysse of Argentina.
It will be recalled that Marquez is the same guy who knocked out Pacquiao in 2012 in what many believe as a lucky hit. Others say that Pacquiao became careless. Whatever the reasoning behind it, the fact remains that Marquez won via knockout over Pacquiao and such will go down in the record books.
Could this be enough reason to have another face-off? It would be the fifth installment if it materializes but the thing is Arum will need to figure out if Marquez is still active or already retired.
Marquez, 42, hasn't made much noise lately and the belief is that the Mexican brawler may have already retired. But according to his conditioning coach Angel Heredia, Marquez is looking to fight at least two more.
"It looks like Marquez will return in December likely in Mexico and then fight in May in the United States," Heredia said via boxingscene.com.
Matthysse on the other hand is coming off a win over Ruslan Provodnikov last April. He is set to fight once more next month, this time against Viktor Postol.
With that said, it looks like Khan is not guaranteed yet of a fight with his former sparring partner. Although both camps already had preliminary talks, do recall that adviser Michael Koncz was a bit apprehensive about Khan for his constant holds and lack of power in his punches.
