Amir Khan has not boxed since February 2022, when he was stopped in six rounds by Kell Brook at the AO Arena in Manchester.
Most observers felt Khan looked a shell of his former self that night, and he announced his retirement from boxing just a couple of months after.
However, the former unified light welterweight world champion has admitted there is one potential fight that could motivate him to step back inside the ropes one last time.
Khan had been incessantly linked to a fight with Manny Pacquiao throughout the 2010s, when the pair were amongst the best welterweights on the planet.
And speaking to Gambling Zone, the Bolton favourite admitted he would still be open to locking horns with the eight-division world champion if the right deal was presented.
“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.”
Pacquiao star is now 45 and has not boxed in almost three years, so a match-up between himself and Khan would perhaps not come under too much criticism.
The same cannot be said, however, for a clash between ‘Pacman’ and Conor Benn, talks for which are now said to be at an advanced stage.
‼️ Manny Pacquiao vs Conor Benn face-off as it’s confirmed they’re in talks to fight in Saudi Arabia next…
[🎥 @MatchroomBoxing]
pic.twitter.com/Wlc5GZ5Pkj— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) March 7, 2024
Benn and Pacquaio were both in Riyadh for Anthony Joshua’s win over Francis Ngannou on Friday night, and promoter Eddie Hearn admitted discussions were well under way for a fight in the summer.
Fans on social media voiced their displeasure at the prospect of Benn – 27 – still with a performance enhancing drugs case yet to be resolved – taking on a much faded version of the Filipino legend.
