It was not too long ago that Amir Khan hinted about potentially retiring from boxing. But now, it appears the Bolton fighter is singing a different tune. With boxing one of the sports grounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is no telling when fights will resume. But the waiting time could give the 33-year-old boxer more time to weigh his options carefully.
"Do I need to do one more fight which could ruin my whole legacy? I don’t know the answer. I’m up against myself. I’m debating with myself should I carry on or call it a day?” Khan said to The Mirror.
Khan took the ring in July last year. He faced Billy Dib and won via technical knockout. That rewarded him with the WBC International welterweight title. It was a fitting redemption fight for Khan who has lost his fight boxing career match at the hands of Terence Crawford via TKO.
One opponent that has been linked to him is Kell Brook. But it appears that with both sides not talking, Khan may be better off looking for other opponents if he still wants to fight on. But given the choice, he has one name in mind - Manny Pacquiao.
Khan's wish of fighting Pacquiao is no surprise. He has come close to doing so in the past but ended up being shunned in favor of higher-profile fighters. That included Floyd Mayweather Jr. But for the Bolton fighter, facing Pacquiao is more than the earnings he could get. It is about proving to himself that he can reach a level where he can fight anyone without fear.
“I want to fight against Manny Pacquiao, he’s the champion. I want to reach the level that I can fight against anyone without fearing anything. Why don’t Qatar host the event, as it’s already prepared for the 2022 World Cup? I love Qatar and I loved my last stay there,” Khan said.
Unfortunately, Khan has a couple of things to worry about. One is that Pacquiao is already 41 and is winding down his career. Based on the list of opponents that Team Pacquiao has in mind, Khan is not among the names listed. That is subject to change but time is another opponent he needs to realize.
Khan's decision may hinge on the longevity of the COVID-19 virus. The longer it keeps sports grounded, the lower his chances are of potentially goating Pacquiao to a fight. So far, he has not mentioned any other fighter but one could crop up soon. A rematch with Crawford perhaps? Most know how that fight had a bit of controversy.
