By Edward Chaykovsky

According to Amir Khan (31-3, 19KOs), he is the frontrunner to face eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao in the first quarter of 2016.

Two weeks ago, Khan said the fight was unlikely after their negotiations hit a wall. That situation has changed.

Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquaio, has named Khan as one of the few candidates being considered for the Filipino star's final career fight. The other names include WBO junior welterweight champion Terence Crawford and WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley - if he defeats Brandon Rios on November 7.

Khan had hoped to face Floyd Mayweather Jr. last month. He was passed over, with Mayweather selecting Andre Berto.

Pacquiao and Khan are former sparring partners and trained side by side for several years when the two of them were being trained by their mutual trainer Freddie Roach. Khan left Roach in 2012 and hired Virgil Hunter.

"I am the frontrunner," Khan told BBC Sport. "Manny Pacquiao makes a good story because we've been training partners and I've been with his coach Freddie Roach.

"There's a big chance of the fight happening, it's all about making sure my team is on point with the deal and they need to make sure they get the fight that I want."

"It would be Manny Pacquiao's last fight and end his career in a big way, not like Floyd Mayweather where, no disrespect to Berto, but I think Floyd finished his career on a low note."