Amir Khan has ruled out a traditional comeback but remains open to the idea of fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Manny Pacquiao in an exhibition match. The 37-year-old former world champion, who retired in May 2022, has no plans to return to the professional ranks unless it's for a major payday against the two boxing legends who eluded him during his career.
Khan, who tested positive for the banned substance ostarine following his February 2022 loss to Kell Brook, is serving a two-year ban that expires in April 2024. Despite his retirement, Khan still hopes for a chance to face Mayweather or Pacquiao, though he acknowledges that both are now focused on exhibition bouts. Negotiations with both fighters fell through multiple times during his career, including advanced talks with Pacquiao in 2018.
"Manny looked really bad in his last fight," Khan told Action Network, referring to Pacquiao's underwhelming exhibition performance in July. Khan believes any exhibition match would need to happen soon, ideally within the next 12 months, before he completely closes the door on boxing. He noted that the interest for these exhibitions would likely come from places like Saudi Arabia or Dubai but expressed doubts due to the region's lack of interest in exhibition events.
Khan, a former junior welterweight champion, made it clear that his return to the ring would only be for a high-profile exhibition against Mayweather or Pacquiao. Otherwise, he's content with his life outside of boxing, focusing on his property ventures and dividing his time between Dubai, the UK, and the U.S. "I don't have the fire in my belly anymore," Khan said, reaffirming that his professional boxing career is over unless one of those two marquee fights comes to fruition.
There are two: King Kong and King Khan. The difference? Get to know it by yourself here.
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