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Amir Khan thinks a bout with UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor would show he is a “real man” as he continues to talk up a potential switch to MMA.

The boxer lost his last professional bout in devastating fashion, suffering a brutal knockout at the hands of middleweight star Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Nevertheless, the Bolton-born puncher seems keen to continue pushing his boundaries and posed a possible challenge to McGregor, per Jefferson Lake of Sky Sports:

I'll go and fight [McGregor] just to prove I'm a real man. I'm not one to back away, I've never backed away from any fight and I never will. Conor seems to have the same kind of attitude as well, so maybe that's something that in the future that can happen. I say why not? I would definitely step into the Octagon with him. Conor, you're a big name and let's make this fight happen. I'd love to take him on. If Conor wants it, let's have it.

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As noted in the piece, Khan has discussed a potential change in codes previously, insisting he could “stop and train for a full year and become a good MMA fighter.” He recently posted the following bulletin on his Twitter feed, too, teasing a potential change:

McGregor has also been at the centre of speculation about a potential change in discipline. As noted by Lake, while the Irishman is set to take on Nate Diaz in a rematch at UFC 202, there have been exchanges between the MMA star and retired boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. about a potential big-money showdown.

While those tied to each sport have been apprehensive about a potential change in codes, UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping believes it’s something that’d be fascinating to see:

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Khan’s career is at a crossroads following his loss to Canelo. While few expected the Briton to get the better of the much bigger and stronger Mexican, the manner in which Canelo floored him sapped the momentum Khan built previously with some strong showings.

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So perhaps it’s little surprise the 29-year-old, a former unified WBA and IBF light-welterweight champion, is exploring different options in combat sports. With his fast hands and sharp feet, he’s better suited than a lot of boxers to potentially make the switch to MMA, too.

However, the FightNights.com Twitter feed is unsure whether Khan, even with his natural boxing talent, would be able to get the better of UFC stars in striking exchanges:

For the time being, McGregor has a lot of challenges on the horizon. Win or lose against Diaz, he’ll have to take on Jose Aldo for a second time if he wants to keep hold of the featherweight title. Regardless of the results, given his massive draw, there will always be elite competitors seeking to take on the Notorious in the Octagon, too.

So any potential showdown with Khan is a long way off yet. But with the boxer in the prime of his career and, crucially, keen to try his hand at MMA, it’s certainly a more likely prospect than McGregor facing Mayweather at this juncture.