Amir Khan’s name has been connected to Manny Pacquiao yet again following Pacquiao’s July 14 win over Lucas Matthysse, with many seeing Khan (32-4, 20 KO) as a strong candidate to face Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 KO) in the future.

Khan, 31, had this to say about the potential fight:

”I’ve been around training with him for many years. But sometimes friends have to fight each other. I think it would make an explosive fight. ... What he’s done in boxing, he’s done great things here in this sport. So, you have to respect him for that, but sometimes you have to fight your friend if you want to make it to the top. I respect him, but I know I can beat him as well.”

Khan returned from a two-year layoff on April 21, easily handling Phil Lo Greco in a 39-second wipeout, and is lined up to face Samuel Vargas (29-3-2, 14 KO) in another tune-up type of fight on September 8.

Pacquiao, 39, has a busy scheduled outside of boxing, of course, as he’s a Senator in the Philippines, and he may or may not fight again in 2018. But a 2019 date with Khan could definitely be attractive for both.

Pacquiao reportedly covets a fight with lightweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko, considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in boxing today. Lomachenko recently underwent shoulder surgery and is expected to return late in 2018.