Amir Khan says it’s “sad” Floyd Mayweather could be heading for bankruptcy, but adds “karma is a bitch.” He reckons Mayweather can’t keep up the American lifestyle in Dubai and might be forced back into the ring for a couple more fights. Khan also reveals Donald Trump declined an invite to his fight with Canelo, and shares that he nearly signed with Dana White and Turki Al Sheikh’s new boxing league — which he believes is about to shake up the sport in a big way. Amir Khan via PokerFirma.com:
“It is sad, but look—karma’s a bitch. The thing is, look how arrogant he was. He’s flaunting money. You can’t throw money and show money like that to people.
Because out there there’s a lot of poverty around the world, and if he’s flaunting and throwing money at strip clubs.
“When we flaunt money, we spend it on buying investments. He’s flaunting money being filthy rich, so he’s trying to put everyone else down. I think karma’s a bitch there.
Secondly with the war that’s happening in Palestine and in Gaza, look at him. He’s totally picking Israel, and he says: “I’m going to support the soldiers.”
“I think he’s lost a lot of fans that way because for him, he doesn’t care which side he picks as long as he’s going to make money. The Israel side has 100% offered him money.
“My wife, myself—we’ve been messaged and we’ve had calls from people to say, “Support the Israel side, you will be financially benefited.” But no, I don’t want to do that.
Floyd wants money, and you see how karma’s a bitch–there’s now reports about him being broke or losing money. I’ve never really respected him with some of the things that he does.
“I’ve lost a lot of respect for him, for when he started picking sides, we don’t want to be standing there promoting war, and he’s promoting war, standing on the Israel side.”
Mayweather can’t be living the American life in Dubai but he might have to go back there for one or two more fights
“This is only from government people, what they’ve said is – it was to do with some money, bouncing cheques, not paying, taking stuff and leaving. He can’t be living the American life in Dubai.
“With Mayweather he couldn’t be living that same Las Vegas lifestyle with 20 bodyguards around him, walking around bullying people, or not paying for bills and cheques.
“I did hear that he got arrested, and he was put in jail, and then house arrest, and then couldn’t leave Dubai till he made the payments, and then he was released. I don’t think he’ll want to come back to Dubai again.
“He might have to just come back and maybe have one or two more fights, because even him at his worst could beat a lot of good champions.”
Donald Trump turned down invite to my fight with Canelo
“We invited Trump to Canelo-Khan, and he declined it. He tweeted “I won’t be at the Canelo Khan fight.” In 2016-17 he was saying he did not want any Mexicans, or outsiders in America, he was saying he was going to kick them out.
“And I made a comment at the press conference saying that this might be mine and Canelo’s last fight in the US, because the way it’s looking we might never be able to fight back in America again, especially with the Trump administration. I said it more as a joke.
“But we actually offered Trump a free ticket to the fight. Oscar De La Hoya was pushing him but he didn’t come. He did tweet, “I won’t be at the Canelo Khan fight.”
“I think it would have been fantastic if he came, because I know that Trump does like fighting sports. I do think he’s a very good man. As a businessman, he is amazing, and as a President, he’s going to do America good. He tries to prevent having wars, he wants peace.”
My trainer Virgil Hunter tried to pull me out of Canelo fight
“I do remember Virgil Hunter at the time saying that it’s a hard fight, he said: you might not be the same fighter again. And I could see it in him that he really didn’t want me to have it.
“But then, as a businessman and as a prizefighter, the payday was like ten million. I could either of had three hard fights to get that, so I took one hard fight. I did have the confidence in beating Canelo as well.
“But it was just that one big punch that put me away. But whatever happened in my career—every step I took—I’m happy with it.
“I’m kind of glad in a way that it’s all over because it’s got a bit too much weight on my shoulders, carrying not only the flag for the Brits, but also the Muslims around the world.”
I would have signed with Dana White and Turki Al Sheikh’s boxing league – they’re going to change boxing in a big way
“Yes, I would have signed with Dana White and Turki Al-Shekih because I knew I was the best out there, and I wanted to progress, and I wanted to fight the best out there.
“My career is very similar to what the league wants to do with their fighters. I built myself up and then fought the best back to back. I took the hard route and that’s what they want.
“And we’ll see now who has the balls to say ‘yes’ because over night you will know who the real fighters are.
“I understand why Turki brought in Dana White—because he saw what the UFC has done, how big it’s become over the last few years. The best are fighting the best, and they’re putting on the best shows.
“Now he wants the same model for boxing: the best fighting the best. I think with Turki, he’s going to make that happen. Getting Dana on board with him and involved in the promotion, I think they’re going to change boxing in a big way.
“Turki’s has given the promoters the biggest paychecks they’ve ever had. I remember hearing one paycheck to Usyk was around $115 million—for one fight. That’s ridiculous. Most fighters don’t make that in their entire careers. That’s crazy.
“But it shows Turki is serious—he’s not just talking, he’s backing it up with action. Now it’s time for him to really shake things up and make boxing a proper business. I think he’s going to take over.”
Last Updated on 04/15/2025
2025-04-15 09:38:11
