By Steve Kim

One thing that Amir Khan (32-4, 20 KOs) has never shied away from is a challenge or a big fight.

Should he get past Samuel Vargas this weekend at Arena Birmingham, there will be chatter about a possible match-up versus former sparring partner Manny Pacquiao.

It's a fight he has yearned for in the past.

When asked about it a couple of weeks ago while he was still in Southern California at the Ten Goose Gym in Van Nuys, California under the guidance of Joe Goossen, he told BoxingScene.com - "Look, I can't see that fight happening till we get past this fight in good fashion and if Manny wants it, the one thing about me - I want to fight whoever they put in front of me, I'll take that fight.

"Does Manny want the fight? We don't know. Now look, end of the day we look at this as a business as well. I know business-wise it would make a lot of money for me and Manny, and it would be a good style fight because we both have a very similar style, explosive, fast."

Pacquiao has met recently with Eddie Hearn, who happens to also promote Khan.

But Khan insisted - ''none of the teams are speaking, no one has spoke to one another. We just want to get past this fight and see what does open. Eddie Hearn is my promoter, he's the one who does all my matchmaking and everything but he's not making anything to me so maybe he's not mentioning anything to me because I've got a fight coming up but I've not heard anything. I've heard nothing in the media either.

"I've just seen a few things, 'Oh, maybe this could be a good fight for Manny' like match-up wise. But nothing in the media either from Manny's team or Manny."

Pacquiao recently fought on July 14th where he stopped Lucas Matthysse in seven rounds for a version of the WBA welterweight title.

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.