Amir Khan Rules Out December Pacquiao Fight on Fury Card

Amir Khan has ruled out facing Manny Pacquiao on December 11, shooting down talk that he could appear on the Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua undercard in Cardiff.

"That's a rumor," Khan told Metro. "Even if it was for that fight night, I wouldn't be ready for it, and I don't think Manny would be either. We've both been traveling, and we're obviously not back in camp. It's only about nine weeks away. I don't know where that came from."

Khan says negotiations for a fight with Pacquiao are ongoing and that he is satisfied with the money and location being discussed. No date or signed contract exists yet.

Why December Never Made Sense for Khan-Pacquiao

Amir Khan has not fought since Kell Brook stopped him in February 2022, and his last win over a genuine top-level opponent came against Chris Algieri back in 2015. Nine weeks is a sliver of time to shake off nearly five years of ring rust, especially against someone with Manny Pacquiao's hand speed in his prime. Khan built his career on fast combinations and getting out of range before opponents could load up on him. Those are reflexes that erode fast once a fighter stops sparring at a competitive level, and Khan openly admits he and Pacquiao are both still traveling rather than grinding through training camp.

Pacquiao, by contrast, has something to point to. His July 2025 draw with Mario Barrios proved he can still go 12 rounds against live competition. Khan has nothing comparable since Brook put him away. That gap matters if this fight eventually gets made, because it suggests Pacquiao walks in with a more reliable recent form line while Khan is a complete question mark physically.

Betting Angle

Until a contract and date exist, there is no real line to price, but the shape of this matchup is already predictable. Markets tend to punish the fighter with the longer layoff and less recent data, and that fighter here is Khan. If a fight does eventually get signed with a proper camp behind it, expect Pacquiao to open as the favorite given his more recent proof of conditioning and durability, even accounting for his own advanced age and inactivity. A rushed Khan, forced into camp on short notice, would likely see that gap widen further. Bettors should treat any version of this fight as a pure style-and-rust proposition rather than a clean form matchup, since neither man has faced elite opposition in years.

The bigger picture here is about fight-week economics as much as boxing. Slotting an unprepared Khan against Pacquiao onto a Fury-Joshua card already carrying a 41-year-old Deontay Wilder against Jai Opetaia would stack the bill with fighters trading on former glory rather than current form. Khan dismissing the December date is the sensible call. Whether a longer runway actually produces a fight worth backing, or just delays a difficult comeback, remains the open question.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Amir Khan fighting Manny Pacquiao on December 11?

No. Amir Khan has ruled out facing Manny Pacquiao on December 11, saying he would not be ready in time and that talks remain ongoing without a signed date.

When did Amir Khan last fight?

Amir Khan last fought in February 2022, when Kell Brook stopped him, and his last win over a top opponent came against Chris Algieri in 2015.

How has Manny Pacquiao looked in his most recent fight?

Manny Pacquiao fought to a draw with Mario Barrios in July 2025, giving him more recent evidence of being able to compete over 12 rounds than Amir Khan has shown.