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Manny Pacquiao Reportedly Floored Amir Khan In Sparring

Manny Pacquiao Reportedly Floored Amir Khan In Sparring

The British Olympic silver medalist and former world champion has often called for a fight with Pacquiao but he hasn't been granted it.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Amir Khan has often talked about wanting to fight world champion Manny Pacquiao, but the British boxer should be careful as the Filipino has reportedly knocked him out before.

British welterweight Khan, who last fought in a win over Billy Dib in July last year, is a former world champion but it's been sometime since he's been world class opposition.

The 33-year-old still wants to fight at the elite level and has regularly spoken about wanting to fight world welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao.

The pair have met before at the Wild Card gym, where they were both trained by Freddie Roach, and they sparred together, with Pacquiao reportedly knocking Khan out cold, according to gym mate, and boxer, Dean Byrne.

"I didn't see it myself," he told Sky Sports, "Khan was all over the place on many occasions and everybody at the gym knows it. I heard stories that he was asleep on the floor. I have heard that.

"Khan's chin is just like that. He is a great fighter, a great athlete, a super boxer, his hand speed is so fast. But his chin? He hasn't got a good chin.

"You can't put muscles on your chin. Freddie wanted him to get in, get out, get in, get out, but Khan stays in the pocket for too long to please the crowd, then he comes unstuck because of his chin."

At 41-years-old time might be running out for Pacquiao to have the biggest fights but he rolled back the clock to beat Keith Thurman to win the WBA (super) welterweight title last year.

Ahead of the fight the American was undefeated in 29 fights and had beaten many of the best names in the division.

Pacquiao's last two world title opportunities came against Saul Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford, with the 2004 Olympic silver medalist was stopped inside the distance.

Crawford totally outclassed Khan. Image: PA Images
Crawford totally outclassed Khan. Image: PA Images

Byrne thinks the results would be repeated if Khan did face Pacquiao, adding, "Pacquiao would have knocked him out back then, yesterday, today or tomorrow. Pacquiao would knock him out forever.

"Khan is much faster than Pacquiao. But the power that Pacquiao poses? There is nothing in Khan's punches. When Pacquiao hits you, you know it.

"It's like a cap gun when Khan hits but it's like a machine gun when Pacquiao hits."

Khan floored by Canelo. Image: PA Images
Khan floored by Canelo. Image: PA Images

Byrne certainly knows about working with Pacquiao, having trained with him for three world title fights and the Irishman explained how the five weight world champion worked, "It was amazing. I still want to pinch myself when I look at my pictures.

"I actually sparred with him for three world-title fights! I actually went jogging with him!

"It was surreal.

"He worked hard, non-stop. Sometimes Freddie would say 'that's enough' but he would carry on. He was absolutely relentless.

"I rose to the occasion. If I sparred with Pacquiao I raised my level to prove to him that I was game. I wanted to earn his respect and show him 'you're just a boxer, like me'."

Would Khan be able to beat Pacquiao?

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Topics: Manny Pacquiao, Boxing News, Boxing, Amir Khan, US Sports, USA, Floyd Mayweather