Amir Khan has called out Manny Pacquiao on X, saying this is the “only one” that would get him out of retirement. He claims that a fight between them is “what the fans always wanted.”
Timing Couldn’t Be Worse
Pacquiao, 46, is already in negotiations to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a rematch, which will be shown on Netflix. The timeframe for that fight is early 2026. Manny said earlier today, on October 29th, that this will be a “real fight,” not an exhibition.
It’s doubtful that Pacquiao would want to put that fight in jeopardy by facing the 38-year-old former IBF and WBA light welterweight champion Khan.
LETS GO @MannyPacquiao I’m up for one final dance but only with you as my partner. You’re still talking rematch with Floyd? Let’s make OUR fight that never happened. This is the ONLY one that gets me out of retirement – it’s what the fans always wanted 🤔 pic.twitter.com/NYSFRP5tsJ
— Amir Khan (@amirkingkhan) October 29, 2025
Khan (34-5, 21 KOs) officially retired on May 13, 2022, and hasn’t fought since. His last fight was against Kell Brook, which he lost by sixth-round knockout on February 19, 2022.
A Fight That Never Happened
The two fighters were scheduled to fight on April 23, 2017. The fight was canceled in March 2017 after the unnamed UAE investors who had promised $38 million for the Pacquiao-Khan purses failed to deliver the money.
Arum on the 2017 Collapse
“Manny wanted to roll the dice. He rolled the dice, and it came up snake eyes,” said Top Rank promoter Bob Arum to the Los Angeles Times about the investor deal turning out to be bogus for the Pacquiao vs. Khan fight in 2017.
Khan picked the wrong time and the wrong fighter to call out for a comeback fight. Pacquiao has not only the option to fight Mayweather, but also the world champions, Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero and Mario Barrios. He wants not only to fight Mayweather again to avenge his 12-round unanimous decision loss from May 2, 2015, but also to capture a world title.
Khan might have better luck calling out recently retired 37-year-old Vasily Lomachenko. He might bite if Amir offers him a fight.
Khan’s last six fights:
- Kell Brook (February 2022)- TKO 6 loss
- Billy Dib (July 2019) – KO 4 win
- Terence Crawford (April 2019) – TKO 6
- Samuel Vargas (September 2018) – Unanimous decision 12
- Phil Lo Greco (April 2018) – TKO 1 win
- Canelo Alvarez (May 2016) – KO 6 loss