Amir Khan allegedly declined a chance to take on pound-for-pound world no. 1 Manny Pacquiao in a autumn extravaganza.

Pacquiao will, instead, take on Miguel Cotto in a Las Vegas bout on November 14.

However, before the fight was announced, Top Rank boss Bob Arum admitted that Khan was offered an opportunity to challenge the Pacman.

He told the Daily Telegraph: "Before we had signed with Cotto Amir's name was on the table, we offered him the fight, but his father and his family felt it was too early in his career.

"Amir Khan has all the attributes of a great champion, and I think he's going to be a superstar in the sport. Okay, so he had a loss in his career, he made a mistake, but he looks great now. I can definitely see Amir and Manny meeting in the ring down the line."

Khan has reportedly impressed many observers in sparring with Pacquiao at Freddie Roach's Wild Card gym.

But instead of facing the Filipino superstar next, it looks likely that he will make the first defence of his WBA light-welterweight title against Dmitry Salita in London in December.

Pacquiao meanwhile, fresh off crushing wins over ring icons Oscar De La Hoya and Britain's Ricky Hatton, is hoping to stay on track for a massive showdown with comebacking Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Mayeather Jr faces Juan Manuel Marquez in Vegas on September 19 in his first fight since December 2007.