Amir Khan has named the one fighter he would end his retirement to fight, believing that the whole world would be interested in the bout.
Khan retired in 2022 following his stoppage loss to long-time rival Kell Brook, but has teased a return to the ring on several occasions.
Khan has now commented once again on potentially coming out of retirement, revealing to Gambling Zone that he would do so if it meant he could face Manny Pacquiao.
“If a deal is on the table, I may consider coming back. You need motivation to get back in the gym more than anything. I’ve done really well in sport, I made a lot of money in the game and I do not need to fight again.
“When big names are mentioned like Manny Pacquiao and the fact it could be in Saudi Arabia, it would be massive. There is interest from Saudi Arabia and I know that Manny was in Saudi, so who knows. Manny wants to fight again it seems, so let’s see.
“I’d like to fight Manny. There’s been some interest. Manny is such a big name, I’m a big name in this region as well. There’s been a lot of interest but we’re yet to have that proper discussion.”
Khan then went on to state how a fight camp could be what he give him a new lease of life.
“I miss training and I’d like to be back in training camp. It’s nice to look good and to be fit and strong. I do miss the body I used to have. But like I say, it needs to be the right person to motivate me. It would need to be a fight that pushes me to go for it in camp.
“If it’s a small name I’m not interested, it needs to be a mega name. Manny or Floyd would be massive, other than that, I’m not interested. Not interested in Jake Paul because I was a fighter whose name was always mentioned in the same sentence as Floyd and Manny. Those are the only two fights that could lift me. Other than that I’d continue to enjoy life.”
Khan then finished by reaffirming once again that any potential fight would likely have to be in Saudi Arabia.
“It will take Saudi Arabia or someone to put the money down, that’s the only way it will happen. I don’t have the energy anymore to negotiate or beg for a fight, I don’t want to do that. If something falls on my lap and the money’s there, I’d consider it.
“Me and Manny were sitting on either side of Turki Alalshikh in Saudi Arabia last time I was there and I was thinking, ‘I wonder if something is brewing here’. Manny and me and two big names in boxing. It would be massive.
“Saudi Arabia makes every fight possible. I think it’s bigger than AJ-Ngannou because look at the Philippine and Pakistan population, then if you’ve got interest in the UK and the US, the whole world will be interested.”
Whether a fight between Khan and Pacquiao will materialise remains to be seen, with Pac-Man instead now linked to Conor Benn.