By Edward Chaykovsky

Johnathon Banks, former fighter and now head trainer of ex-heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko, strongly believes that a welterweight bout between Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan is a meaningless fight.

Last month, Pacquiao and Khan made separate announcements that a deal had been reached for a showdown in April, with their fight taking place in UAE.

But their deal fell apart after the investors, who promised $38 million to finance the fight, were unable to come up with the promised funds.

Banks feels that regardless of who would have won that fight, it would have did nothing to push the division forward or create a new superstar in the sport.

Instead of Khan, Banks would like to see a potential passing of the torch with Pacquiao fighting his Top Rank stablemate, WBC/WBO junior welterweight champion Terence Crawford.

"I wouldn’t have wanted to see Pacquiao vs. Khan because it wouldn’t have meant anything. If Khan won, what does it mean? If Pacquiao wins, what does it win? It’s a meaningless fight," Banks told On The Ropes Boxing Radio.

"I think Pacquiao vs. Terence Crawford will be a passing of the torch. If Crawford has a win over Pacquiao, then Crawford is basically taking Pacquiao’s spot in the division. I think he will have a better chance at ruling his division than Amir Khan. I take nothing away from Khan, I think he’s a very tough fighter but as far as the best fight for Pacquiao, I would personally like to see Terence Crawford take that fight."

As far as the winner, Banks is tipping Crawford to defeat the eight division world champion, but cautions that it won't be easy.

"I actually favor Crawford. Don’t get me wrong, I think it would be a hard fight for Crawford but it would be his fight to win. I can’t say anything negative about Pacquiao, he’s a top notch fighter. You can’t take anything away from him in that regard, but I just believe that fight will favor Terence Crawford, but he will have a lot to prove when he faces Pacquiao," Banks said.

Pacquiao is expected to fight on a date in July, and 2012 Australian Olympian Jeff Horn is reportedly the frontrunner to face him.