Khan demands strict drug testing for dream Pacquiao bout with Thurman fight up first
AMIR KHAN will insist on strict drug testing for his dream fight with Manny Pacquiao, following the Filipino veteran’s miraculous late surge in power.
The 40-year-old is set to face Britain’s former light-welterweight champion on November 9 in Saudi Arabia, to settle a rivalry over ten years in the making.
First, PacMan is challenging Keith Thurman for his WBA welterweight world title on July 20, with neither man undergoing tests by the Voluntary Anti Doping Agency.
But Khan, who watched the eight-weight legend enjoy his first KO win in nine years in July over Lucas Matthysse, will make sure their clash is properly monitored.
The 32-year-old father of two said: “I think testing is something that is very important in boxing. We have these tests for a reason. If they don’t want to take it there must be some reason.
“There will be testing for our fight, definitely, to make sure the fight is legal, where both parties are happy. I think Floyd Mayweather was the last fighter who really made a point of making sure the testing with Pacquiao was done.”
Floyd Mayweather was indeed militant on the testing before his 2015 win over Pacquiao and he outboxed his rival over 12 one-sided rounds.
Since then, Pacquiao has enjoyed four wins and a narrow points defeat, with the highlight reel KO of Matthysse the undoubted highlight of his Indian Summer.
The excellent form, so late in the Philippines senator’s fighting career, has led to rumours he could be boosting his training illegally.
But Khan, who shared genius Wild Card trainer Freddie Roach with Pacquiao for four years up until 2012, says he never saw 61-7-2 ace cheat.
He said: “It’s hard nowadays, everyone has something to say about drug cheats.
“Fingers will always be pointed at people. I know Manny and in training camp I never saw him doing anything bad.
“I don’t know what it does to you. Does it make you a better fighter, does it make you stronger?
“These people don’t have confidence in themselves or maybe feel they need to do it to take them to the next level. I’m a clean fighter – I’ve always asked to be on drug testing programmes.
Khan lost a split decision to Lamont Peterson in 2011 but the American failed a drugs test before their rematch and Khan was handed back his WBA title.
In 2016 he stepped up to middleweight and was destroyed by a single concussive punch from Canelo Alvarez, who was caught doping in 2018 and handed a pathetic six-month sentence.
Khan’s stained record but clear conscience means he can look back on his career with nothing by pride, unlike plenty of his peers
Ahead of his July 12 Jeddah clash with Billy Dib, he said: “All these fighters who are taking something, I don’t think it will get them far in life. It will always come back to haunt you.
“It’s good mentally to know I’ve never done something like that, you have to live with it. I can live knowing I’m a clean fighter. All my life I’ve not done anything.
“Once you get caught, that’s it really. You always have that label. Some have gone on to be great fighters after taking stuff. Six months is nothing really.
“People take it knowing they’ll only get a slap on the wrist. What can you say about it?
“I look back and can say I did everything very clean. I did everything with my talent. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
- Amir Khan v Billy Dib is exclusively live on free-to-air Channel 5 on Friday, July 12