Hopes of a blockbuster bout between the British pair appear to be over after the Gypsy King announced his retirement from the ring earlier this month but Khan thinks the pair owe it to those who love the sport to go head-to-head in the squared circle.

Khan told SunSport: "We hope that happens because at the end of the day it'll be good for the fans. End of the day, it's great for boxing, it's great for British boxing.

"And if that fight ever came through, it's something that we'd watch, we as boxing fans and as ex-fighters, we want to see that fight.

"So yeah, I think they do need to give that to the UK fans just to give that cherry on top, you know what I mean?

"And then they can go and enjoy their career after whatever they get into."

Khan can relate to the situation as he fought rival Kell Brook in his last fight before hanging up his gloves in 2022 – which resulted in an unlikely friendship between the two former enemies.

The former world champion said: "For me, I had to give it back to the UK fans. I had to do it for the UK fans, the British fans.

"They wanted to see that fight and even though I knew I was done, I still had to give them that UK fight between me and Kell Brook.

"I mean we're friends now, we were never friends. Sometimes it takes punching each other in the face to become friends.

"But look, at the end of the day I got nothing but respect for Kell. I think it's something that we wanted to give back together to the UK fans, and I'm glad we did it now."