Amir Khan rules out fight with Manny Pacquiao

Pacquiao and Khan train together in Los Angeles

WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan says it is unlikely that he will ever fight stable-mate and pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.

On Saturday Pacquiao became a five-weight world champion after brutally defeating Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas in their WBO welterweight title fight.

"As for fighting him (Pacquiao) in the future, I can't really see that happening," said Britain's Khan.

"I'm sure by the time I get to that level he will be calling it a day."

He added: "We train in the same camp and I've got too much respect for Manny to fight him."

Khan joined Freddie Roach's 'Wild Card' gym in Los Angeles after his 60-second defeat by Breidis Prescott in September 2008.

His link-up with Roach has seen him become a close training partner of Pacquiao, which has reaped huge reward.

Since then the 22-year-old form Bolton has captured the world title and on 5 December makes the first defence of his WBA belt against Ukrainian Dmitriy Salita.

606: DEBATE Will Khan ever be as good as Pacquiao?

Khan was ringside to see the Filipino's 12-round demolition of Puerto Rican Cotto. Pacquiao floored his opponent twice in the early rounds before finishing the contest late on.

And asked about Pacquiao's sublime dismantling of Cotto, Khan said: "Me and Manny train together, we have the same trainer and everything.

"I totally respect him and what a great performance he produced at the weekend.

"He was amazing, I was there to watch the fight and it inspires you. When you see a great champion do that and think about the fact I was training with the guy for five weeks, to pick up even a little bit of experience from that is going to help me in my career."

And ahead of his title defence Khan insists joining Roach in California was the best decision of his career.

"It's the best thing I've done," he said.

"I've got away from all the distractions, I'm totally focused, I get up in the morning to do my run, I go to the boxing gym to do my training and the main thing is I can have a rest in between training.

"In England, I'm always left, right and centre, doing this and that. At least now I've got a break between training."