Manny Pacquiao's 83-year-old promoter, Bob Arum, said that the eight-division world champion will have the last say about his proposed comeback fight with current WBC Silver welterweight titlist Amir Khan early next year after his injured shoulder is completely healed.

Boxing Scene indicated that Arum already finished talks with the Bolton native right at his own hometown and will now have to relay what they have discussed to the former pound-for-pound champion for his consideration.

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"This takes time and I will present everything to Manny and we'll see what happens," said Arum.

The Top Rank chief had been loud about his plans to stage the potential fight somewhere in the Middle East in February or March next year, but final confirmations with regards to date and venue are yet to be announced. Dubai, Qatar, and UAE were said to be possible options, while Las Vegas would be the insurance venue, according to SB Nation's Bad Left Hook.

Khan, who had been repeatedly turned down by pay-per-view king Floyd Mayweather Jr. to a big payday bout for a couple of years now, was reportedly enthusiastic about the opportunity to fight Pacquiao, which the Briton called "massive" and "amazing".

"I'd love to take that fight. We're friends but sometimes you've got to put friendship to one side," Khan said.

Pac-Man and King Khan were friends and regular sparring partners before when the latter was still under the guidance of world-renowned trainer Freddie Roach, who still trains Pacquiao till now. The two fighters discontinued sparring when Khan hired a new trainer after his round 4 TKO loss to Danny Garcia in July 2012.

Boxing News 24 noted that aside from Khan, Arum and Pacquiao are also considering reigning WBO light welterweight champion and fellow Top Rank stablemate Terence Crawford as his possible comeback opponent, although Pacquiao can still face Crawford after fighting Khan.

Speculations abound that mentioning these names were just Arum's way of misleading Mayweather that he and his team are ready to move on if the unbeaten American does not give Pacquiao a shot at a rematch.

But rumors said that Arum's first priority is still to set up Pacquiao for another megabuck dance with Money next year.

TagsBoxing, Boxing 2015, Boxing News, Boxing News 2015, Boxing Rumors, Boxing Rumors 2015, manny pacquiao, Amir Khan, Bob Arum