Amir Khan in talks to come out of retirement and fight two YouTubers - including KSI
Amir Khan has flirted with a return to the boxing ring after serving a two-year suspension for having a banned substance in his system, and a fight with KSI is on the cards
A return to the boxing ring could be on the cards for former world champion Amir Khan, with suggestions he could fight YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI. Khan, 37, has not fought in two years - since his defeat to bitter rival Kell Brook.
The 2004 Olympic silver medallist retired after the fight and it later emerged he failed a doping test for the banned substance ostarine. Khan was hit with a two-year suspension by UK Anti-Doping, which accepted his defence that he did not knowingly ingest the substance.
Khan has been intent on making a comeback, with his sights on a showdown with Manny Pacquiao. Khan pushed for a fight with Pacquiao, now 45, during the height of his career but it never materialised.
But instead of facing the eight-weight world champion Pacquiao, it could be influencer KSI who is Khan’s comeback opponent. The 30-year-old has a 1-1 record as a professional, defeating fellow YouTuber Logan Paul in 2019 before losing on points to Tyson Fury’s brother Tommy last year.
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KSI is the founder of the Misfits Boxing promotion, which stages fights predominantly involving internet personalities. YouTuber Slim Albaher is one of them, and he claimed on social media that he was offered a fight with Khan, with the winner having the chance to fight KSI.
"I was offered Amir Khan. One of the best fighters to lace up the gloves from the UK,” he posted. “They really [are] doing Anything they can to keep me away from KSI."
Were Khan and KSI ever to meet in the ring, there would be a significant size difference. Khan spent the vast majority of his career campaigning at welterweight and light welterweight, while KSI, who is more than two inches taller, has fought his contests at around 180lbs – between the light heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions.
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Back in February, Khan revealed he was back in training and called on Saudi boxing boss Turki Alalshikh – the man behind the run of blockbuster fights held in the Kingdom over the past 12 months – to set up a showdown with Pacquiao.
"I mean I am training a little bit here and there but the thing is the only man that can make that fight happen is Turki Alalshikh,” Khan told The Sun. “I think Turki Alalshikh can make that fight happen between me and Manny Pacquiao. Yeah, that's a fight that would definitely lift me up, for sure."
Khan’s defeat to Brook in Manchester in February 2022 is his only fight in the past five years. His last victory in a world-title bout came in 2011 when he knocked out Zab Judah to unify the IBF and WBA 140lb titles.