By Edward Chaykovsky

Virgil Hunter, trainer of welterweight contender Amir Khan, has a very good feeling about his boxer's ability to stun Manny Pacquiao in a potential 2016 showdown.

The two fighters had once trained side by side at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California. Both men were simultaneously trained by Freddie Roach. In 2012, Khan parted from Roach and hired Hunter.

The two boxers often sparred with each other. According to Roach, Pacquiao would usually have his way with Khan and even knocked out the British star on at least two occasions.

Hunter has personally watched the sparring footage and has a completely different take on what took place, rejecting Roach's version of the events.

Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, is speaking with Khan's team but he's also speaking with undefeated WBO junior welterweight Terence Crawford.

"With Amir’s familiarity of Pacquiao and this stage of their careers, I’m sure that he’s confident that he can give a good account of himself in that contest. I’ve seen the tapes of him and Pacquiao sparring and without going into it, it was nothing like Freddie said it was, for sure," Hunter told On The Ropes Boxing Radio.

"Amir would be a tough out for Manny Pacquiao and with his energy level and length and speed, if he brought all these things together with great focus, there’s a danger that Pacquiao could lose, and lose convincingly. From a fighter stand point, I think that’s the reason why. From a political standpoint, I have no idea [why no head has been reached as of yet]. Hopefully he gets it."