Carl Froch has heard rumours of Amir Khan returning to the ring and doesn’t think it’s a good idea.
Khan hasn’t fought since his knock out loss to career-long British rival Kell Brook back in February of 2022.
A year on it emerged he had failed a drugs test and was banned from all sports for two years – a reduced sentence as the panel accepted that he didn’t intentionally take a banned substance but still employed strict liability – meaning he could not return until April 2024 at the earliest.
At the age of 36 and after a long lay off, returning in any sort of form would be a tall order for the one-time Silver Olympic medalist and former world champion.
Khan had several hard fights in his decorated career and suffered a brutal knockout at the hands of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez when he jumped up two weights to fight the pound-for-pound great.
Throughout his career, he tried to secure fights with the likes of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao and failed, though he has recently once again started talking up the possibility of fighting ‘Pacman.’
Speaking on Froch on Fighting, ‘The Cobra’ warned him that Pacquiao still hits too hard.
“He’s a solid, fierce competitor, 44 years old, a big puncher. A punch is the last thing to go from a professional boxer. Amir Khan calling out Pacquiao is purely for money and he needs to be careful. We saw him again Brook, he got hit with a jab and his legs turned to Bambi. He can’t take a punch. His punch resistance has gone.”
Froch went on to praise Khan’s legacy.
“He’s had a great career, his service to boxing has been unbelievable, he won a silver medal and went on to have a great career. To fight Pacquiao now the writing is on the wall. I know Pacquiao’s 44 years old, but he’s still gonna knock out Amir Khan. He needs to stick to whatever he’s doing – I think he’s promoting or trying to get into that side. Do not fight Pacquiao, it’s dangerous, keep the gloves hung up Amir.”
Whilst the fight would likely be an exhibition, Pacquiao has also been floated as a potential opponent for Josh Taylor, which would be a pro fight.