Manny Pacquiao versus Amir Khan is a fantasy fight that many fans wish would’ve happened, though many don’t realize that at one point it might’ve been close to materializing.
Manny Pacquiao defeated 20-0 Chris Algieri in 2014, defending his welterweight world title with a comprehensive victory over the undefeated fighter.
Amir Khan defended the WBC silver belt the same year in a similar shutout performance against 26-2 Devon Alexander.
Now 57-5-2 and 30-3 respectively, the pair met up in London, and discussed a possible fight.
Amir Khan wanted to fight Manny Pacquiao after meeting him in a pillar of London’s amateur boxing community
The Fitzroy Lodge has a reputation for its caliber of amateur boxing, and is the birthplace of world champions such as David Haye and Cornelius Boza Edwards, and also has a whole crop of emerging domestic amateur talent, including Mahmud Said, who won the London Elite title in 2024 and has represented the Somali national team.
It was here that Khan and Pacquiao met up in 2015, with Khan stating after the encounter, according to the Daily Mail:
“Even though we have that friendship, if it makes sense then it’s a fight that can certainly happen between us. I want to fight the biggest and best names out there and Manny is definitely among them. Within the next few weeks, who I’m fighting should be a lot clearer. I want to give the fans the most exciting and entertaining fights in 2015.”
Khan, who was KO’d by Terence Crawford, was quick to suggest he would not be opposed to fighting Pacquiao, though the fight didn’t happen, as Pacquiao landed the big shot against Floyd Mayweather next, and Khan instead faced Pacquiao’s most recent foe, Chris Algieri, who Conor Benn retired.
Amir Khan snubbed for Floyd Mayweather’s penultimate fight
Two years before Mayweather returned to face Conor McGregor, he had what was his final fight as a pro against Andre Berto.
Berto was 3-3 in his last six fights, and Mayweather was criticized for taking the fight instead of facing Khan or someone more deserving.
Khan spoke on missing the Mayweather fight to Sky Sports: “I’m disappointed not to have got the fight for what is the third time after having been one of the front-runners.”
Berto believed he was only picked as Berto irritated Mayweather years ago when he won a National Golden Gloves tournament.