Mayweather And Pacquiao Become Amir Khan's Exceptions

JAKARTA British boxer Amir Khan has dismissed the possibility of returning to the boxing ring unless Floyd Mayweather Jr or Manny Pacquiao is appointed to fight his duel.

Khan said that he would give the next 12 months to clash with the two names. He emphasized that if within that time their duel did not materialize then he would completely close the door.

"I've quit this sport 90 percent. I no longer love boxing. To motivate myself, (the duel) must be (against) Manny or Floyd Mayweather," he said.

Khan, who won the main belt in the junior welterweight while at the height of his glory, has actually set aside returning to professional ranks after finding peace outside the ring.

He said that he would refuse to go down the mountain if not the two names would be his opponents.

"No, I don't think I will unless there is a fight against Floyd Mayweather. The two boxers I will face are Floyd or Manny Pacquiao," he said.

Pacquiao and Mayweather have repeatedly been linked to Khan as long as they are both still active. However, when Khan announced he was out of boxing in 2022, none of them ever shared the ring.

Khan, who is currently 37 years old, decided to leave boxing just one month after he tested positive for using the banned ostarine on the night of the last duel, which was in defeat against Kell Brook, in February 2022.

The problem made Khan banned from competing for two years until April 2024. The ban further reduced Khan's interest in returning to play in the ring.

Khan, who has a record 34-6 (21 KOs), almost had a duel with Mayweather between 2014 and 2015. However, Mayweather chose the fight with Marcos Maidana and Andre Berto.

Negotiations for Pacquiao's fight opened in 2018, but also failed.

Mayweather and Pacquiao, who are both retired, fought in 2015. However, they are still active on the exhibition circuit. Pacquiao struggled to impress against novice boxer Rukiya Anpo in July 2024.

"Manny looked bad in his last fight, so bad. Manny won't want to fight me and I love him. We spoke on WhatsApp," Khan said.