Amir Khan could face Manny Pacquiao and wants Floyd Mayweather

The Bolton boxer has also denied claims he could meet former WBO light-welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov.

Khan has not fought since his points win over Chris Algieri in May, but has distanced himself from claims a fight was on the horizon against Provodnikov, who had been discussing a possible meeting in November.

“No one has approached me about that fight,” Khan told Sky Sports.

"I don't know anything about it, (manager) Al Haymon has not even mentioned that fight to me.

“So I think it is just a rumour to be honest with you, but the Manny Pacquiao fight seems more likely to happen.

"We are working on that fight, we are speaking to (Pacquiao's promoter) Bob Arum and his team and I think if that is going to happen, it will happen early next year.

"It's a good fight for me. We know each other quite well, we've done up to 100 rounds of sparring. I used to train with Freddie Roach before so it makes a good story line as well.

"But I think it is a good time to catch Manny Pacquiao now, I think it would be a huge fight, I don't know where it's going to be yet but we are talking terms and negotiating if we can make the fight happen."

Mayweather enjoyed a 49th straight win against Andre Berto before announcing his retirement, but there is a strong belief he will return for a 50th bout to break former world heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano’s unbeaten record.

“Who knows, he might come back for the 50th fight, I can't see him retiring. I know what Floyd Mayweather is like; I've spent time with him, I've been in the gym with him, he's a guy who can't stay in one place.

"So I really believe he will come back for that 50th fight and I really think he will go for that Amir Khan versus Floyd Mayweather fight."

Khan pretty clearly is desperate to land some sort of marquee fight, preferring a big name and a payday to match over fights which may thrill the diehard boxing fan a little more. Obviously, targeting the likes of Mayweather and Pacquiao isn't exactly dodging the best fighters, but many question whether Khan has the distinct right to be expecting a fight of this magnitude the way he has been, lately.

Khan v Pacquiao is intriguing, especially with questions over Manny's overall fitness and whether or not he is past his best. From a domestic standpoint, the people won't be happy until we finally get Khan v Kell Brook - a long-standing grudge which Amir can hardly laugh off as beneath him anymore, now that 'Special K' is a world champion boxer in his own right.

As for Mayweather fighting bout #50 - don't rule it out, as Liam Happe writes in this piece published shortly after Mayweather v Berto was confirmed. It just probably won't be against Khan, but instead against a popular but limited fighter of Latin descent who will help rake in a fortune on Cinco de Mayo weekend in 2016.