"End of the day, my main priority is to fight Floyd Mayweather. Now if he doesn't take it, then Manny Pacquiao is something that I would look at...There's nothing standing in the way of making this fight happen. I mean, this fight is going to happen basically if both parties have agreed to it. Now it's all about just sitting down and maybe letting my lawyer take over now," stated former world champion Amir Khan, who had a lot to say about a potential clash with 8-division world champion Manny Pacquiao. Check it out!
BT: What's good, bro? I see you recently caught up with one of your old sparring partners, Manny Pacquiao. How did that come about?
AK: How it came about was Michael Koncz got in touch with my uncle and he said, "Look, we're looking to have Amir meet Manny Pacquiao. We're coming to the UK. I think it'll be good. Manny's going to be traveling around the world doing tours and stuff and a few appearances, so it'll be nice if you want to meet him." So I thought, being we trained as well, obviously we'll go meet him. When we met him and stuff, they interviewed me and Manny togehter on Sky Sports News and Sky TV and they asked the question, "Would you fight each other?" Basically, we respected each other and we both agreed that we still respect each other and one day, I think it'll be good to fight each other. Look, we're both in a position where the fight could be made and it's a very big fight. Now, what else we did say was, look, Floyd's not wanting to fight me, Floyd's not wanting to fight Manny Pacquiao, so we're gonna fight each other. I mean, that just really doesn't put Floyd in a good position. End of the day, my main priority is to fight Floyd Mayweather. Now if he doesn't take it, then Manny Pacquiao is something that I would look at.
BT: When you met up with Manny, were there extensive talks about the possibly of you two fighting or was it just something that was mentioned in passing?
AK: No, there was like a back and forth conversation. End of the day, it's a fight that the public would want to see. What a great storyline it would make because of Freddie Roach, my old trainer. On top of that, he spoke about my last fight; I spoke about his last fight. He was very impressed with my last performance. He said he wants to fight the best guys in the 147-pound division and he really believes I'm one of them, so that's why he says, look, that fight between us would be a massive fight. He did say he would like to fight me. I said the same thing. We just spoke about his interest in the fight. I mean, we didn't really tweet or anything, but when people found out that me and Manny Pacquiao were at the gym together, it went crazy. There were so many people. We had to get a lot of security to take me in. I think it's good that Manny Pacquiao sees my pull power. I know Floyd Mayweather just recently said that Amir Khan is not big enough. I mean, if he comes here and sees how big Amir Khan is, I think he'll know better. With the press, with the fans, I mean, even non-boxing fans know who Amir Khan is, so how can Floyd Mayweather say that Amir is not a big name. I'm sure Manny Pacquiao saw how big I am here and maybe that interested him in the fight also.
BT: I know this is looking way down the road, but if you and Manny did end up fighting, do you see that fight taking place in the UK at maybe Wembley Stadium?
AK: Definitely. We'll sell out 80,000 people quite easily there. A massive fight it would be. Wembley Stadium is something that we would be looking at. I mean, we initially went there; we had a meeting about just what it could hold and seeing what it's going to be like. I just went to have a look at Wembley Stadium and then it was the next day I got a call from Manny Pacquiao's team, who also said live on TV that he'd like to fight in Wembley Stadium. If both parties want the fight, well let's make it happen. Let's see what goes down. It's just a waiting game now. But look, end of the day, the Mayweather fight is something I want and he wants. I'm sure if the Mayweather fight came to him, he'll take it. If it comes to me, we'll take it. If it doesn't, then obviously we have to have other options.
BT: If that fight with Manny did present itself, would it have to take place at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds or would you entertain a catchweight fight with him at say 143 or 144 pounds if that's what he wanted?
AK: You know, because I'm so used to 147 and I built myself up to 147, I think 147 is just an ideal weight for me. I wouldn't want to go lower or higher. Let's just stick to 147. Manny's fought at 147 numerous times. Obviously Algieri was coming up from 147. I'm already a full-on 147 fighter, so the fight would probably be made at 147. Plus, you know, the title would be on the line there as well. I have the WBC silver title and the winner would move on to the number one position to fight Mayweather after that. I think the only way of getting the Mayweather fight would be probably forcing him and putting him in that corner, so 147 is the ideal weight for us to take that fight.
BT: You recently said that you had a conversation with Al Haymon and you guys discussed the Mayweather fight. Based on those talks, do you feel like there's still a possibility that you might get the Mayweather fight if the Pacquiao fight doesn't happen?
AK: Yeah, there's still a possibility. I mean, this is boxing. I know Mayweather sometimes waits till late before he announces it. We're hoping that he fights. Obviously you have to look at Plan B, but yeah, there still is hope that a Mayweather fight can happen.
BT: With all the changes that have been going on lately in the sport, do you see any problems that might prevent a fight between you and Pacquiao from happening?
AK: I think it will definitely happen between me and Pacquiao. I've already spoke to Al and the team and they said, "If you want that fight Amir, then we will get you that fight." They're my advisers and they can advise me what route to take, but I also have a lot of input as well.
BT: Several weeks ago, news broke about a deal that was reached between Richard Schaefer, Oscar De La Hoya and Al Haymon that basically suggested you were still under contract with Golden Boy. Is that true? Are you still currently under contract with Golden Boy Promotions?
AK: Everything between me and Golden Boy is cool, but at the moment, I mean, look, I was quite shocked when I read that Amir Khan is one of the fighters that's with Golden Boy still because Al Haymon has released me or whatever. I don't know if that was rumors or what because my contract is over with Golden Boy. I mean, I might work with them in the future, who knows, but at the moment, I'm a free agent and the only person I have a link with is Al Haymon, who is my adviser.
BT: I know you had a contract with Showtime as well. Are you still with Showtime or is your contract with them officially over too?
AK: No, no. Showtime was a joint contract with Golden Boy as well. As soon as the Showtime one finished, then the Golden Boy one finished; they finished together basically. I'm a free agent both when it comes to TV and promotional status.
BT: So just to set the record straight and to make it crystal clear, you are not signed with Golden Boy or Showtime, you're definitely a free agent, and the only person you have any kind of paperwork with is Al Haymon, correct?
AK: That's right. Correct. You're exactly right, Ben. The only person I have any paperwork and stuff with is Al. Other than that, I'm a free agent.
BT: So as far as you're concerned, there's nothing standing in the way of making a fight between you and Manny Pacquiao?
AK: There's nothing standing in the way of making this fight happen. I mean, this fight is going to happen basically if both parties have agreed to it. Now it's all about just sitting down and maybe letting my lawyer take over now. But other than that, I mean, we've agreed to it. He wants it. I want it. He's okay with fighting me. I'm okay with fighting him. I can't see any problems coming in between making the fight.
BT: You and Pacquiao have sparred numerous times in the past. How does an actual fight between you and Pacquiao play out? Would that be a chess match because of how well you know each other or would it just be a blur of punches in bunches?
AK: I think it's a bit of both because we have a very similar style. We're both offensively good. My defense is a little bit better than Pacquiao now, you know, being with Virgil Hunter. I know exactly how Manny moves; he's not really changed as a fighter since when we used to spar with each other. With myself, I've changed as a fighter quite a lot. But look, Manny's a great fighter and he's still one of the top guys out there. Yeah, it will be a tough fight, but I think it will be a tough fight that will be very exciting to watch because we've got explosiveness, we move a lot, and obviously we can play a game of chess at times as well. It'll be an exciting fight regardless. It'll be a fight that people will want to watch because styles make fights and this is one fight that styles will make it look really explosive and fun to watch.
BT: One last question, Amir. Why do you view a Mayweather fight as being a higher priority than a Pacquiao fight?
AK: The reason why is because Mayweather is undefeated. Obviously with Pacquiao, at one time, he was on the same level as Mayweather, but then he had a couple of losses recently. Mayweather never tasted defeat and beating a guy who has never tasted defeat is much bigger. Everyone thinks he's untouchable because he's not been beaten. I mean, obviously, we do agree that he's untouchable at the moment, but I really believe that beating someone like Mayweather would be a bigger win and much bigger than beating someone like Pacquiao.
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