Amir Khan has ruled out a comeback in the conventional sense of the word but is yet to completely give up hope of one day sharing the ring with Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao, the two fighters who eluded him during his career – despite much chasing from the Englishman.
Khan, 37, announced his retirement in May 2022, one month after he was informed that he’d tested positive for banned substance ostarine on the night of his last fight, a February 2022 stoppage loss to Kell Brook. Khan was subsequently banned for two years until April 2024.
Khan, 34-6 (21 KOs), was linked to both Mayweather and Pacquiao at various times during his career, most notably in 2014-15 when he looked set to fight “Money” only for the superstar to choose bouts with Marcos Maidana and Andre Berto instead. Negotiations for a Pacquiao showdown reached an advanced stage in 2018 but they too fell through.
Mayweather and Pacquiao fought each other in 2015 and both are now retired but currently active on the exhibition circuit with the latter struggling to impress against novice Rukiya Anpo in July. Khan, who says any exhibitions need to happen within 12 months otherwise he will close the door completely, isn’t holding his breath for his old gymmate and friend to entertain a contest against him.
“Manny looked shit in his last fight, really bad,” Khan told Action Network. “Manny won’t want to fight me, and I like him. We speak on WhatsApp. They’re looking for a big paycheck from Saudi, Qatar or Dubai but it’s going to be hard because obviously Saudi and Turki Alalshikh will never do an exhibition fight. If it happens and I’m ever going to consider doing an exhibition, then it will have to be in the next 12 months otherwise I am done from the sport. I’m 90 per cent done from the sport anyways, I don’t have the love for boxing anymore. To motivate myself it would only have to be Manny or Floyd Mayweather.”
Khan, who won major belts at junior welterweight when at his pomp, all but ruled out coming back to the professional ranks after finding peace away from the ring.
“No, I don’t think I will unless a Floyd Mayweather fight was there. The only two fighters I would make a comeback for is Floyd or Manny Pacquiao,” he said. “Other than that, no I’m not interested at all. I won’t fight KSI. The thing is I’ve done it at the highest level and don’t have the fire in my belly anymore. God has been kind, I’m financially strong, going into other things like property and am living half of my time in Dubai and the UK as well as going the states a lot. I’m keeping busy with lots of things.”
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