37-year-old Amir Khan could be weeks away from a return to the ring after a two-year retirement.
Amir Khan hasn’t fought since a loss to Kell Brook in Feb. 2022. Immediately after the loss, Khan announced his retirement from boxing and seemed content with his decision.
While Khan might be done competing in a professional facet, he hasn’t ruled out a return via an exhibition bout in recent months. Fellow boxing greats like Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Mike Tyson have made exhibition boxing matches into a potentially high-earning venture.
Khan could potentially be the next big name to feature in exhibition boxing. After a two-year hiatus, he’s nearing a return to the ring after regaining his hunger during appearances at several high-profile events.
According to Khan, he’s been offered and accepted a lucrative offer to face Manny Pacquiao in a boxing exhibition.
Amir Khan vs. Manny Pacquiao is allegedly in the works for an exhibition bout
“The next one we’re looking at is in the boxing ring and it is with the likes of Manny Pacquiao, so that’s what we are looking at and the country that’s backing it is very, very powerful,” Khan told Prime Casino. “The fans want it, now the ball is in Manny’s court if he wants to do it, and I know there’s a lot going on in his life as he’s in politics.
“It’s just a waiting game. This happens a lot in boxing and then you both end up getting bored of it.” (h/t talkSPORT)
As of this writing, Pacquiao hasn’t confirmed nor denied Khan’s claims about a potential fight. The 45-year-old Pacquiao hasn’t fought since a special rules bout against RIZIN’s Rukiya Anpo, fighting to a draw.
Coincidentally, Pacquiao and Khan were recently spotted together at the Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou boxing event earlier this year in Riyadh.
Amir Khan nearing comeback two years after retirement
During their physical primes, Khan and Pacquiao were two of the top boxers in the world, both earning prominent world titles during their careers. While they competed in close-proximal weight classes during their boxing runs, a fight between the two sides never came to fruition.
Before losses to Terence Crawford and Brook, Khan held the WBA light-welterweight title, defeating the likes of Marcos Maidana and Paulie Malignaggi. He won 26 of his first 27 professional bouts, beating top names like Zab Judah and Marco Antonio Barrera.
As for Pacquiao, he retired from professional boxing after a lopsided defeat to Yordenis Ugás in Aug. 2021. Before that, Pacquiao seemed on the cusp of a remarkable late-career ascent, rattling off wins over Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman.
During his prime, Pacquiao outclassed Juan Manuel Marquez, Shane Mosley, and Miguel Cotto in the ring. His long-desired clash with Mayweather finally took place in 2015 with Mayweather earning a unanimous decision victory.
As for who could potentially be funding the Khan vs. Pacquiao fight, Saudi Arabia is likely the powerful country that Khan is referring to in the above quotes. Time will tell if these two legends will sign the dotted line and give fans one of the most intriguing exhibition bouts in recent memory.