Amir Khan, the former British Olympic medalist and world champion, says he'll only step back into the ring for one opponent: Manny Pacquiao. Khan shared this surprising revelation in a recent chat with TalkSPORT.
The Bolton-born fighter hung up his gloves in 2022 after a thrilling career packed with big wins and shocking losses. His final bout, a long-awaited grudge match against Kell Brook, didn't go his way and showed signs that Khan's best days were behind him.
Since then, Khan's name has popped up in comeback rumors. There's been talk of him facing YouTube stars like Jake Paul and KSI. But Khan's not interested in joining the crossover boxing scene.
"You know the only person I would come back for on a serious note would be Manny Pacquiao."
Khan's not just looking for any fight. He wants a challenge that'll push him to his limits.
"A Manny Pacquiao fight would make me train even harder than a Kell Brook fight, because I know how hard I would have to train, he's an animal you need that push."
Pacquiao, boxing's only eight-division world champion, is widely seen as one of the best fighters of his generation. He's had his ups and downs in recent years, losing to Jeff Horn in 2017 but bouncing back to become the oldest welterweight world champion by beating Keith Thurman in 2019. His last fight was a loss to Yordenis Ugas in 2021, and he's now focused on his political career in the Philippines.
Khan and Pacquiao have history. They nearly fought in 2017, but the deal fell through. More recently, there's been talk of an exhibition match, but those discussions have gone quiet.
While a Khan-Pacquiao fight would certainly grab headlines, it's worth remembering that both men are past their prime. Khan was one of Britain's youngest world champions and scored impressive wins over fighters like Marcos Maidana, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Zab Judah. But at this stage, any return to the ring would be more about nostalgia than championship aspirations.
For now, Khan's potential comeback remains just talk. But in the unpredictable world of boxing, you can never say never.
