By Edward Chaykovsky

Former champion Amir Khan is now eyeing a showdown in 2016 with his former Wild Card stablemate Manny Pacquiao, who held belts in eight weight divisions.

Khan and Pacquiao were at one time training, and sparring, side by side at Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California. Khan left Roach in 2012 and hired Virgil Hunter, who still trains the British star.

Earlier this year, Pacquiao and Khan sat down in London to discuss the idea of a fight, but then Pacquiao finalized a deal to face Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2nd.

Khan was trying to land Mayweather on September 12th, but he was passed over in favor of Andre Berto.

Khan says Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, recently reached out to discuss a potential fight in Dubai next year. Arum is hoping to stage Top Rank's first show in Dubai in the next few months.

"A fight with Manny Pacquiao in Dubai could be massive. I’d love to take that fight. We’re friends but sometimes you’ve got to put friendship to one side," Khan told Sport360.

"That fight would be amazing. If that fight does come off it would be towards the end of next year in Dubai. Obviously Dubai has a big Filipino community and a big British and Pakistani community, too. It would be a massive fight."