Amir Khan got an offer to lace up the gloves again. The former world champ, who hung up his gloves in February 2022, says Manny Pacquiao wants to set up a fight between them.
Khan, now 38, had a stellar career. He snagged an Olympic silver medal and became WBA world champ at just 22. Over 40 fights, he racked up 34 wins and 6 losses, facing off against big names like Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, Terence Crawford, and Chris Algieri.
His last fight didn't go his way. Khan lost to Kell Brook in Manchester, getting stopped in the 6th round. That's when he decided to call it quits.
But now, Pacquiao's come knocking. Khan spilled the beans in a chat with talkSPORT Boxing:
"Manny was like shall we do a fight? He was quite serious. Shall we make a fight happen? I was like, listen, if we could get a funder, someone like Turki Alalshikh on board, then why not?"
Khan's not blind to the reality of their situation. Both fighters are past their prime, with Pacquiao at 46 and boasting a record of 62 wins and 8 losses in 72 fights.
"Look, we've had our best days, but a fight like that would definitely sell. Manny having a Philippines fan base all around the world, and myself having a decent fan base as well … People like to see people make comebacks, and me and Manny, we're probably in the same position, we've both been retired three or four years, I think it will make a good fight."
The two aren't strangers in the ring. They've sparred before, so they know each other's styles.
But there are concerns. Khan's taken some tough hits over the years, and Pacquiao's got a lot of miles on the clock. Some folks reckon they should stay retired or stick to exhibition matches.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao's got his eye on another prize. He wants a shot at the WBC Welterweight title against Mario Barrios. If he wins, he'll break his own record as the oldest welterweight champ.
Whether these comeback plans pan out remains to be seen. But one thing's for sure – these boxing legends aren't ready to fade away just yet.
