Amir Khan is targeting a return to the boxing ring and has set his sights on Manny Pacquiao. The 37-year-old ended his iconic career following a tough loss to arch-rival Kell Brook in 2022, but he has previously flirted with the idea of making a comeback.
Khan did not compete for three years after beating Billy Dib in 2019. Then, he lost to Brook in 2022 before hanging up his gloves. However, 2024 may be the year fans see the former unified light-welterweight world champion put his gloves back on as he has been working hard in the gym to get in tip-top shape.
Back in 2023, rumors around Khan squaring off against Pacquiao surfaced but they did not come to fruition. During an interview with SunSport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Bolton native admitted that’s a fight that would persuade him to come out of retirement. “I mean I am training a little bit here and there but the thing is the only man that can make that fight happen is Turki Alalshikh,” he added.
“I think Turki Alalshikh can make that fight happen between me and Manny Pacquiao. Yeah, that’s a fight that would definitely lift me up, for sure.” Pacquiao, now 45, ended his illustrious professional boxing career in 2021 following a defeat to Yordenis Ugas. But after a failed presidential election campaign, the Filipino stated he was out of retirement in February, and he wants a big name to compete against.
Sean Gibbons, who runs Pacquiao’s promotional company, told Boxing Scene how much longer the veteran has left in the ring and also mentioned some other fighters he would like to face. “Technically he’s out of retirement,” Gibbons said. “He’s got about a year left. He just wants to fight. Manny feels that he’s in tremendous shape.
“He’s training for this exhibition but hopefully that will lead to something bigger and better. I do [see a pro return for Pacquiao]. One of the fights that people talked about for a long time was Manny Pacquiao versus Conor McGregor. That’s something that will be sensational in Saudi Arabia, let’s go.
“It will be a good place to do it. It’s really simple. His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, [the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia], loves big events, and he’s putting on the best events. It’s a very intriguing and fun fight bringing two of the biggest names together in combat sports.”
While Khan has his sights set on Pacquiao, he also took some time to mention Jake Paul, who has made waves in the boxing world in recent years. The American has won eight of his nine matches so far, with the one defeat coming against Tommy Fury.
The 27-year-old has shown his credentials in the boxing ring and is raising the profile of the sport outside of it, but Khan says he has no interest in competing against the YouTuber. “Jake Paul, I don’t think I can lift myself up for that fight,” Khan said. “But, like a Manny Pacquiao fight you have to be on your A-game.”