By Edward Chaykovsky

Former world champion Amir Khan (31-4, 19 KOs) is very eager to secure a fight with ex-training partner Manny Pacquiao.

Back in February, the two boxers announced that a deal was reached for a showdown on April 23 in UAE. The deal quickly fell apart when overseas investors were unable to show any proof of a promised $38 million to stage the fight.

Now Pacquiao has signed a contract to face Jeff Horn on July 2nd in Brisbane, Australia.

Pacquiao's adviser, Michael Koncz, admits their preference was to face Khan - but he also indicated that they plan to take care of Horn in July and then hopefully secure a fight against Khan in the fall, in October or November.

Khan is ready to prove the critics wrong by putting on a show against Pacquiao.

"This is the time for me now to prove everyone wrong. I'd still like to fight Pacquiao, if that fight can be made. Putting the fight anywhere, even in America or the UAE, would be massive. If they want to open a market in Dubai I think it's a key fight," Khan told The Telegraph.

"You've got a lot of Filipinos there and you've got a lot of Pakistanis and a Muslim community there. There are still negotiations going on. Even now I still think that there might be a possibility the fight could happen."

Khan has been out of the ring since suffering a knockout loss to Saul "Canelo" Alvarez last May in Las Vegas. He intends to retire in two years time, and because of that he is very carefully choosing his opportunities.

Before he calls time on his career, Khan wants to accomplish two goals - winning another world title and fighting Pacquiao.

"I know that one day my career is going to be finished. I've got two years left in the game. Now every move has to be the best move to benefit me," Khan said.

"I want to end on top with one more big title win. Then I'll call it. I've not got long left in my career. I've been doing it a long time. It's the end of an era. It's now just about setting my legacy. I'll make the right choices and do the right things. Hopefully, I'll end my career with a Manny Pacquiao fight and a welterweight world title. I know I can win it.