What next for Amir Khan

The top next options for Amir Khan

Press Association

What next for Amir Khan
Action Images/Andrew Couldridge

AMIR KHAN’S promoter Eddie Hearn believes his fighter has “half a dozen” options for his next opponent following his first-round demolition of Phil Lo Greco on Saturday night.

Khan, back in the ring for the first time since losing to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in May 2016, stunned Lo Greco with a first-round knockout in just 39 seconds.

Having signed a three-fight deal with Matchroom, Khan is expected to return to the ring in late August.

Here Press Association Sport assesses who the 31-year-old could potentially meet now.

Kell Brook

Amir Khan, left, addressed Kell Brook after beating Phil Lo Greco (Peter Byrne/PA)
Amir Khan, left, addressed Kell Brook after beating Phil Lo Greco (Peter Byrne/PA)

Most British fans would like to see this and it was a possibility that became more likely when Khan signed with fellow Briton Brook’s promoter Hearn. Following Khan’s victory in Liverpool, Hearn said “it became” a contest worthy of being staged at Wembley. The biggest issue would be the weight. Khan would be more comfortable at welterweight, though that is a 147lb limit that Brook has struggled to reach. It could be overcome if they agree to meet at a catchweight and it does appear inevitable they will finally clash at some stage.

Adrien Broner


Trash-talking Broner was someone Khan suggested he was interested in. The 28-year-old American has fought numerous times at the 147 limit Khan feels most comfortable at and their schedules would fit given Broner was also in action on Saturday, when he had a majority draw against Jessie Vargas. Broner has only won three of his last six fights and may therefore be attracted by a big payday in Britain, though there would no world title to make it even more appealing to Khan.

Errol Spence Jr

Errol Spence Jr, right, beat Kell Brook in Sheffield last year (Richard Sellers/PA)
Errol Spence Jr, right, beat Kell Brook in Sheffield last year (Richard Sellers/PA)

The last man to beat Brook was one of three namechecked by Khan on Saturday evening as someone he wanted to get in the ring with. Spence has an impressive 23-0 record with 20 knockouts and he beat Brook in his own backyard to claim the IBF welterweight title, which he successfully defended against Lamont Peterson, who is one of the four men to beat Khan. The timing is not ideal for Khan – Spence fights again in mid-June – and as he is the belt holder Hearn may have to take his man across the pond again.

Manny Pacquiao

This one, between two of trainer Freddie Roach’s former fighters, came close to happening in the past. In February 2017 the two men announced on Twitter that they had agreed terms on a date in April, yet in March Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum stated it would not go ahead. Pacquiao, who recently split from Roach, would then fight in Australia against Jeff Horn, to whom he lost his WBO welterweight title. Pacquiao turns 40 this year so time is running out to sort out a deal with Khan.

Danny Garcia


When Khan was brutally knocked out by Alvarez, he dismissed talk of retirement and stated his wish to avenge his defeat to Garcia in 2012. Khan was stopped in the fourth round by Garcia in Las Vegas to suffer his second successive loss and he split from Roach shortly after. In a Twitter question-and-answer session in December, Khan said the Garcia loss was the toughest of his career and that he “wasn’t focused”.

Keith Thurman

Another unbeaten welterweight world champion, another attractive proposition to Khan. Thurman has a 28-0 record, with 22 knockouts, and his last victory came over Garcia in March 2017. Thurman himself said he was “highly interested” in facing Khan back in 2015, though he has never fought outside of North America so may be reluctant to cross the Atlantic.

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