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Amir Khan, never shy to talk and talk and talk, gave plenty of interesting words for thought to the Telegraph's Gareth A Davies in an interview today, and says that among other things, he may be ready to retire within three years:
"My ambition is to fight the best that’s out there. In my eyes the two best fighters in the world are Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. And I'd never fight Manny because we train together and we’re friends, but Floyd Mayweather is a possibility.
"To be the best you have to fight the best and beat the best. My time will come. By the time I reach my career goals I will be in my late twenties and I will most likely retire. But I will still need challenges in life."
To be perfectly honest, I do tire of the constant retirement talk in boxing. It's not that I blame these guys, especially the big-money earners, for wanting to get out before they're beaten up too much. I get it, and it's an admirable goal, and I have no problem with it. But everyone constantly talks about it, and no one ever stays retired. Floyd Mayweather has retired, like, four times. David Haye retired a couple of weeks ago and he's already likely lined up a fight in March against Vitali Klitschko.
[ Related: Peterson on Khan's Chin, Fighting in D.C., More ]
Khan (26-1, 18 KO) still has a lot left to go in boxing if he wants it. There's still unfinished business at 140, that is if a fight with Tim Bradley can be made, and then there's the welterweight division and possibly beyond.
But really, I can kind of see where Khan is coming from, too: Let's say, for instance, he wins this fight, does fight Tim Bradley and wins that one, and does fight and upset Floyd Mayweather in late 2012, which is something he's targeting.
Where do you go from there? He's said he's not interested in fighting Wild Card stablemate Manny Pacquiao. Obviously new challenges will arise, and fellow Brit Kell Brook could be part of the top class scene by then, too, which would be a big fight if everything went right.
But if you judge just on the current climate as it is, with Mayweather and Pacquiao likely winding down their careers, and few really major stars in or around the welterweight division otherwise, Khan may see no point in prolonging a career just to rack up wins or take a bunch of fights.
Of course, again, history says that nobody really stays retired. Ever. That may be changing, I guess, as I keep waiting on the Ricky Hatton or Oscar De La Hoya or Joe Calzaghe comeback, but they're all staying out of the ring.
Khan and Golden Boy have also invited President Barack Obama to the fight:
Khan revealed that an offer to attend had been extended to US President Obama. "I’ve left it to the team and Golden Boy [Promotions] and they’ve sent some letters and done it the proper way. So they’ve done their job."
Odds on this are roughly the same as odds were that Martin Rodriguez would beat Adrien Broner last week.
Khan faces Lamont Peterson live on HBO and Sky Sports on December 10 in Washington, D.C.