• Khan-Pacquiao feud

Khan reveals strained relationship with Pacquiao camp

Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan are both tutored by Freddie Roach in America © PA Photos

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Amir Khan has revealed a rift has formed between his representatives and stable-mate Manny Pacquiao's team, sparking rumours the close friends could meet in the ring.

Khan and Pacquiao train out of the same Wild Card gym in Los Angeles and are both coached by revered trainer Freddie Roach. The fighters have always got along well and been supportive of each other when preparing for their respective challenges, regularly sparring together and going on arduous runs side by side.

Both men have always affirmed they would never clash in the ring but, with relationships between the opposing camps appearing to sour, clamour for a mega-fight could soon start in earnest.

Members of Pacquiao's corner have banned the Bolton-born fighter from sparring with their man and the pair no longer train at the same time. Khan, who is preparing to defend his IBF and WBA light-welterweight titles against Lamont Peterson in Washington DC on December 10, admits there is tension with Pacquiao's camp.

"It's strange," he told the Bolton News. "There's tension in the camp. My team are cool and I'm just concentrating on Peterson but his team seem to be worried.

"His camp don't want me sparring with him and now we train at different times. It's like they're keeping us apart. We still see each other when one comes and the other goes, and have a quick chat, but it's not how it used to be. It's like his people are thinking there could be a fight between us."

Khan has made his intentions to move up to 147lbs after the Peterson clash clear, with the 24-year-old already targeting a super-fight with the unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2012.

Despite the Brit stating regularly that a fight with Pacquiao would not be viable, recent developments suggest an unexpected showdown could be moving closer.

Khan said: "Manny's never been on my radar. We're good friends and I'd never want to put Freddie and Alex [Ariza, his conditioner] in that position. I would prefer to fight Mayweather but so many fights happen nowadays you just never know."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.