Amir Khan ready for return to boxing to finally face 12-time world title winner after failed £30 million deal nine years ago

Amir Khan is preparing to return to the boxing ring, four years on from his retirement announcement in 2022.

The British boxer does not appear to be looking for an easy return to the sport as he is preparing to square off with a 12-time world title winner.

It will be the first time that he has squared off with this opponent in a professional fight, despite agreeing a deal to fight them nine years ago in a £30million deal.

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Amir Khan finally set to square off with 12-time world title winner

Khan has confirmed to the Metro that positive talks have taken place to come out of retirement and to square off with Manny Pacquiao.

The Olympic silver medallist also confirmed the bout will not take place on the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua undercard in December.

He said: “There are talks. There’s a lot of interest. I’ve seen numbers which I’m happy with, and I’ve seen a location which I’m happy with. Manny has come back to the same team that I’m dealing with and said he would want something as well. Manny is happy.”

The pair had long been rumoured to square off, with a fight coming close in April 2017, with the British boxer even taking to social media to confirm that the pair would be clashing.

However, despite a reported £30million deal, the pair were expected to fight at either the Sevens Stadium in Dubai, Zayed Sports City Stadium or Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Yet, Bob Arum would confirm to ESPN that the fight was not going to take place between Khan and, at the time, reigning WBO welterweight champion Pacquiao.

Finally, nine years later, we may finally see the pair square off; however, fans may not be happy with the timing as Khan is now 39, and Pacquiao is 47 years old.

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Amir Khan believes this fight would be bigger than Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua

Khan confirmed the fight with the 47-year-old would not take place on the undercard of Fury and Joshua, as he is of the belief that their fight would be bigger than the all-British clash.

Joshua and Fury are finally set to meet on December 11 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, but Khan distanced himself from being part of the event, as reported by Boxing Scene.

He said: “There is interest elsewhere, with other people and other promotional companies, in making the fight happen. I’d love to take that fight. I would say yes to it. It’s not something I would say no to. But not on the AJ-Fury undercard. I don’t expect Manny to be on the AJ undercard at all. You don’t want to steal the show.

“Nationally, AJ-Fury is a massive fight, but internationally, Amir Khan-Pacquiao is a massive fight, a bigger fight. But I think it’s their night. I wouldn’t even want to fight on the same show because it’s their night and their big fight. They deserve it more than anyone. AJ-Fury, what a fight it is. It’s a fight we’ve all been waiting for. Let them have that time. That’s their time.”