KHAN'T REFUSE THE CASH
Amir Khan admits mega-money offer from Saudi Arabia stopped him retiring
AMIR KHAN admits the mega money on offer in Saudi Arabia kept him out of retirement.
Bolton’s 32-year-old welterweight lost a lot of credit with American fight fans in April when he quit after a round-six low blow from WBO king Terence Crawford.
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And the 2004 Olympic silver medallist is still not ready to offer homegrown rival Kell Brook, 33, a UK grudge match in the twilight of their careers.
Instead the former light-welterweight champion faces Billy Dib on Friday and is hopeful of luring Manny Pacquiao out to the desert for another silly-money showdown in November.
'WHY SHOULDN'T IT BE ME?'
Khan said: “If I didn’t have this new avenue opening up in Saudi Arabia, I am not sure what I would have done.
“While I feel so strong and excited with the sport, I would be stupid to walk away and leave millions behind on the table.
“We are prize fighters but there is only so much money you need to be comfortable.
“I will have no problem when someone else comes along and takes the opportunity to make this sort of money but when this is my last few fights, why shouldn’t it be me?”
Khan took the whole of May off for Ramadan and while the Muslim fasting festival helped him keep his weight down, he did not have the energy to do a lick of training.
Initially he was slated to fight unknown MMA slugger Neeraj Goyat but - following a car crash - the Indian was pulled out and replaced by former featherweight champ Dib, who should pose a tougher test.
And, despite the lack of food and shorter camp, Khan insists he will get the job done and tee up the Pacman battle.
Khan said: “It will be a five or six week camp. I’ll be fine with that.
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"Normally I have 12 weeks, but you must remember the first four weeks are about getting the weight down.
“But I had already cut my weight after Ramadan, so I was straight into training after that.
“Ramadan started a week after the Crawford fight, so it’s not like I’ve lost that muscle memory.”
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