Amir "King" Khan (31-3, 19 KO) is itching for a major fight, but for some reason doesn't think undefeated Keith "One-Time" Thurman is necessarily the right man to fight. Despite Khan and Thurman both being under Al Haymon's Premier Boxing Champion banner, Khan is eyeing a date with Manny Pacquiao.
According to Thurman, a Khan fight might not be too interesting anyway. "If I step in the ring with him all he's going to be doing is running away," Thurman told Boxing News Online, and indicating he'd rather face IBF champion Kell Brook, Shawn Porter, or Pacquiao.
Khan Targeting Pacquiao, Would Love A Danny Garcia Rematch
Khan, who has struck out twice in efforts to face Floyd Mayweather Jr., has his sights set on a Pacquiao bout in Dubai. Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, hasn't ruled it out. "This takes time and I will present everything to Manny and we'll see what happens," Arum said to Sky Sport.
If Pacquiao doesn't happen, Khan is open to a rematch vs. Danny Garcia, who knocked him out in 2012 when they fought as junior welterweights. "I'd like to fight Danny Garcia again. If that option came up, I'd grab it with both hands. That's a fight I'd like to take," Khan told Dubai Eye.
Khan Says "One-Time" Thurman Shoud Be Called "Sometimes"
Khan may be overestimating his value to big-name opponents though. Mayweather spurned him twice in 2014 in favor of Marcos Maidana, whom Khan beat earlier in his career. Then, Mayweather chose to face Pacquiao in May, before settling on Andre Berto (30-3, 23 KO), who is 3-3 in his last six fights. Garcia has also show a lack of interest in facing Khan because he's already knocked him out.
Meanwhile Brook has been agitating for a fight vs. Khan in the U.K. for the entire year only to be told he needs to build up his name. As for Thurman, Khan said he'd consider it, but scoffed a little at Thurman's accomplishments.
"Keith is a good fighter. He calls himself one-time, but it should be 'sometimes' because it's just not really happening for him lately, with the level going up around him," Khan said.
"I like him and I'd take that fight. He's obviously built his name up in America knocking people out and beating a lot of the people I've beaten. Next year could be the biggest year of my life. Maybe a Kell Brook fight could happen, maybe a Keith Thurman fight could happen. If it makes sense then definitely."
The last time Khan held out for a dream fight he wound up locked in a war with Chris Algieri. He'd be wise to not pass up a good matchup if it comes along.
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