By John F. McKenna (McJack): There have been rumors circulating recently that there is a rift between World Boxing Association (WBA) / International Boxing Federation (IBF) light welterweight champion Amir Khan (26-1, 18 KO’s) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KO’s).

Today Khan moved quickly to put the rumors to rest and assure everyone that everything is fine between Manny and himself.

Khan will be defending his WBA/IBF titles on December 10 against mandatory challenger Lamont Peterson (29-1-1, 15 KO’s) at the Convention Center in Washington, DC. In his last fight Amir picked up Zab Judah’s IBF light welterweight title belt via 5th round KO.

Amir and Manny are stable-mates, they have sparred together in the past and are both trained by future hall of fame trainer Freddie Roach. Khan and Pacquiao struck up a quick friendship when Amir began training under Roach in 2008, so it was somewhat surprising when the story broke on Wednesday of a possible right between the two.

Part of the rumor was that Khan was being shut out of sparring with Pacquaio. Of course one rumor begets another rumor and speculation begins to run wild. The speculation was that the reason Pacquiao’s people did not want him sparring with Khan was that the two may someday face each other in the ring. The theory was that Pacquiao’s people did not want to make it easier for Amir if the pair had a showdown.

Khan on his Twitter account Thursday insists that he and Pacquiao are still close friends and that they continue to spar. Amir further maintains that because of his friendship with Manny the two will never face each other in the ring and implored his friends on Twitter not to believe rumors.

Khan’s fight with Peterson will be his last before he moves up to the welterweight division. Amir has had trouble in his last couple of fights making the weight at light welterweight and at 5’10” he does have the frame to handle the extra weight. Amir’s ultimate goal is to take on the undefeated Floyd Mayweather and take his “0” away from him.

In all probability Amir will have one or two fights at welterweight before he takes on Mayweather, hopefully in the 2nd half of 2012.