Amir Khan is reportedly being lined up for a huge co-main event fight against Manny Pacquiao for the blockbuster Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua card.
Event organisers Sela had initially planned to stage a double main event between Pacquiao and WBO super lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson for the December 11 bill at Cardiff's Principality Stadium. However, the focus is now reportedly on booking Pacquiao against a new opponent, with Stevenson being moved to another card.
Financial restrictions behind change
BoxingScene claim the decision was made due to financial restrictions placed on the Saudi events co-ordinator, which has already forked out huge fees for Joshua and Fury.
It is now being claimed that Khan, 39, has been proposed as a new possible opponent for Pacquiao. The British fighter has not set foot in the ring since being stopped by Kell Brook in February 2022.
He announced his retirement shortly afterwards, but has repeatedly insisted that he would reverse his decision for Pacquiao after missing out on the fight at their respective peaks.
Khan's stance on a return
Speaking to The Sun, he said: “The only person I’d ever come back for and do an exhibition fight or maybe a fight is probably someone like Manny Pacquiao because size-wise and style-wise it's good.
“But other than Manny Pacquiao… and I heard that he’s an ambassador of IBA, so I think maybe we could do an IBA show with Manny Pacquiao and myself.”
WBC welterweight titlist Ryan Garcia has also reportedly thrown his hat in the ring to box Pacquiao, with a decision looming ahead of December's big fight day.
Focus on Fury vs Joshua
Attention for now, though, is on the huge Fury v Joshua bout. The pair faced off in a surprisingly friendly press conference at the Olympia in London on Wednesday. There were doubts as recently as the start of this week that the fight would even go ahead.
Fury has made it clear he feels he's the A-side of the billing. The 38-year-old said: "When I look behind me, I only see one Don and that's Fury vs AJ.
"Now you've come to get the rent and I ain't f***ing paying, because I'm number one. We're going to walk out seeing Tyson Fury versus his opponent Anthony Joshua - an old dosser who works for me."
Joshua, meanwhile, is focusing on the magnitude of their December 11th contest, which will be shown live on Netflix. He said: "I know in pubs people have had proper fights about who is going to win out of me and Tyson.
"I know family members have fallen out. I know we're going to inspire this generation and the next. Before anyone knew us internationally, when I was watching Tyson fight at leisure centres, it was people from this country that supported us. I'm happy to be here fighting and fulfilling my destiny on this Earth."
