Amir Khan Interview: Brit will wait for Manny Pacquiao fight as 'people have lost interest' in Kell Brook

British boxer says miscommunication around their alleged agreement is disappointing, but he will wait for his chance with newly-crowned WBA (Super) welterweight champion INTERVIEW
Khan will fight again on November 8 in Saudi Arabia.
Getty Images
Tony Mogan24 July 2019

After watching Manny Pacquiao pick apart Keith Thurman to become a world champion for the 13th time, Amir Khan believes his career in boxing has a long way to go yet.

Pacquiao remains part of Khan’s plans with the 32-year-old ready to bide his time and wait for a showdown with the eight-weight world champion. But as far as long-term rival Kell Brook is concerned, Khan has moved on.

After breezing past Billy Dib in Jeddah earlier this month, Khan will return to Saudi Arabia to fight in Riyadh on 8 November with him and promoters Super Boxing League eager to make the state a premier destination for boxing alongside Las Vegas, New York and London.

Matching the Bolton-born fighter with ring legend Pacquiao would certainly help those lofty ambitions.

But the newly-crowned WBA (Super) welterweight champion is unaware of any agreement to fight Khan, leaving the Briton and his team to search for a new opponent for the time being.

In Pictures | Keith Thurman vs Manny Pacquiao | 21/07/19

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While the miscommunication has been frustrating, Khan hasn’t given up hope of Pacquiao signing on the dotted line for November - or a later date.

“It does put me on a downer a little bit, knowing that Manny has denied signing anything,” Khan told Standard Sport.

“Obviously I was told he had signed something so it puts a bit of confusion [out there] at the moment but that isn’t my fault, it is just what I have been told by advisors so I’m just going to carry on with my life and carry on with my boxing.

“If the Manny fight happens, it happens. If it doesn’t happen, we move on.

"I’ll keep myself busy, I’ll still fight in November regardless. And we will go from there see where that takes us.”

Khan says talks are ongoing with a number of names for that November date and insists there are plenty of big fights left for him – both in the UK and further abroad.

In Pictures | Terence Crawford vs Amir Khan and undercard | 21/04/19

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One yet to materialise is a meeting with Brook. The two have been circling each other for the best part of a decade, but a clash of egos, world title ambitions and the usual headache of boxing politics has kept them separated.

When Khan signed a three-fight deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom in January 2018 – the promotion that has represented Brook since 2011 – the wait looked to be over.

But the 32-year-old has been and gone, breaking ties with the promotion after bouts with Phil Lo Greco, Samuel Vargas and WBO champion Terence Crawford.

Khan and Brook might never meet in the ring Photo: Getty Images
Getty Images

Brook meanwhile hasn’t been seen since his hugely underwhelming win over Michael Zerafa last December, pulling out of a proposed fight on the Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz Jr undercard in New York in June.

While a clash between Khan and Brook was the domestic dust-up so many pined for a few years ago, Khan believes that is no longer the case.

“I don’t think it [the appetite for the Brook fight] is there anymore. Normally, I’d be walking around the streets and people would be talking about that fight, but now, people aren’t talking about that, they are talking about the Manny Pacquiao fight.

“People have lost interest in that fight against Brook. There are rumours he’s retired, he’s not retired, I don’t know what he is doing with his career to be honest with you - I’m ready to let it go by, I’m not bothered about it.”

Khan and Pacquiao have been in talks in the past Photo: Getty Images
Getty Images

Watching his old stablemate Pacquiao take apart the previously undefeated Thurman in Las Vegas on Saturday night has made Khan think about his own career.

The former WBA and IBF light-welterweight champion has fought 39 times since turning professional a year after his silver medal success at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Khan’s offence in the ring has rarely been questioned, with his superb hand speed and accuracy making him fascinating to watch. But with more miles on the clock, he admits now is the time to adapt.

“Watching Manny, it made me realise… even at 40, he can go stronger and be at his best condition. I feel really good, at the age of 32, I feel strong. I feel the best I have felt in a long time.

“Sometimes, age is a help. I’ve moved away from my style where I just throw thousands on punches and not get tired.

In Pictures | Boxing world champions from heavyweight to flyweight

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"Now obviously I am going to get tired, so I have to think about every punch I throw, making sure it lands and making sure it means something.”

Khan says his next opponent should be revealed within the next week and believes that November 8 fight will be against another welterweight, having dominated former featherweight champion Dib in Jeddah.

Khan fell short in his only crack at a welterweight world title against Crawford in April but believes Pacquiao’s win over the ‘overrated’ Thurman has blown the division wide open again.

“It shows there are fights out there. I’ve always said that Keith Thurman is a little bit overrated. Obviously he’s proved that, the way Manny beat him. Manny looked really good in his fight so it just shows with a bit of speed and movement you can cause a lot of problems for all the boxers out there.

“It was a great performance from Pacquiao he did what he needed to do and you feel it’s all up for grabs now."

Amir Khan was speaking at The Great Financial Trading Conference in partnership with online financial trading broker ThinkMarkets (www.thinkmarkets.com). As part of their collaboration, they run the 'Ring the Changes' initiative to support under-privileged youth across the UK.

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