Amir Khan: ‘I can fight Errol Spence if I want’

By Boxing News - 03/28/2020 - Comments

By Dan Ambrose: Amir Khan says he’s got the option to face Errol ‘The Truth’ Spence Jr. for his WBC welterweight title if he wants to. Khan still has the blazing hand speed and incredible talent to make it interesting against anyone in the 147-lb division, including Spence.

Khan (34-5, 21 KOs) is ranked #12 with the World Boxing Council, and he would be an ideal opponent for the unbeaten Spence (26-0, 21 KOs) to fight when he returns to the ring after the pandemic.

Khan, 33, isn’t saying he will fight Spence. He says he’s got the option of fighting Spence if he wants to. Khan also says that Manny Pacquiao wants to fight him, and he spoke to him and his manager Sean Gibbons on the phone. It’s difficult to imagine Khan turning down a fight against the 41-year-old WBA welterweight champion Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) if it’s offered to him.

Image: Amir Khan: 'I can fight Errol Spence if I want'

Khan has the option to fight Spence

“I want to fight at the end of the year. It depends if this virus is going to last,” said Khan to Fighthype. “People say it may go a year or it may go a little longer. All the sporting events have been canceled.

Football [aka soccer], which is a big sport in the UK and in America as well. So really there’s a lot of catching up to do. So I’m going to see how this goes. I’m going to keep my head down, keep myself fit and busy.

“Yes, I’ve been keeping my eye on all the fighters,” said Khan. “Yesterday, I got the OK that I can fight for the WBC title against [Errol] Spence if I wanted. Listen, I’m in the position. I got good offers out there, so I’m going to wait and see what offers are out there for me. With all the coronavirus going on, in the meanwhile going on, I’m going to see the options and see what route I can take,” said Khan.

Spence coming off car crash

After Spence’s bad car crash last October, he could use a tune-up fight against someone like Khan if it can be made. How much Khan has left in the tank at this stage in his career is unknown. Khan fights on rare occasions at this point in his career, and he’s only had one fight against a top-level fighter since 2016 in his 6th round TKO last year in April against Terence Crawford.

Khan fought twice in 2019, so he shouldn’t be in need of a warmup fight when he returns to the ring. He says he has an offer to fight in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, which could mean that he can fight an easier opponent and get a nice payday.

We saw Khan do that last July when he destroyed lightweight Billy Dib by a 4th round knockout in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Khan had too much size, speed, and power for the 34-year-old Dib.

Image: Amir Khan: 'I can fight Errol Spence if I want'

Khan: Pacquiao is interested in a fight

“It is towards the end of my career now. I’ve done so much in the sport. I’ve achieved more than I ever thought I would. I’m just enjoying it more than ever and I’m financially strong. I can say I’m in a good position.

“I was the first guy to go there [Saudi Arabia], and then Eddie [Hearn] jumped up and took AJ [Anthony Joshua] over there. I’m happy to fight whoever. I’ve fought the best out there. I want to fight the top names.

“Manny Pacquiao, he was on the phone with me as well, saying, ‘Let’s make it happen.’ His manager Sean Gibbons, I spoke to Sean and he was like, ‘Yeah, let’s make it happen. Let’s see what the options are.’

There are big options out there. I’ve got deals from Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia…Look, it’s all about being very smart, and picking the right one really. Let’s see what happens, taking my time and let’s see what falls in my lap,” said Khan.

Pacquiao could be fighting Mikey Garcia next in Saudi Arabia. Those two have been mentioned in potentially fighting in the summer, provided that the coronavirus disappears.

Assuming that Khan doesn’t need to fight a good opponent to make excellent money, it’ll be interesting to see if he’ll choose to take on a dangerous opponent like Spence or take on another easier opponent. Since Khan’s loss to Canelo Alvarez in 2016, he’s beaten these fighters:

  • Billy Dib
  • Sergey Rabchenko
  • Samuel Vargas

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