Amir ‘King’ Khan is one of the best boxers on Earth. At 17 he won a silver medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics, making him the youngest British Olympic boxing medalist ever. At 22 he became the WBA light-welterweight champion. Now 29, he is a two-time former world champion, and has fought professionally at three weight classes.

He fights Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas on May 7, 2016, and is in the process of becoming an MMA promoter. Days after his fight, he will fly to his ancestral home, Pakistan, to open an enormous gym, which will be the headquarters for the Super Fight League. In August of last year the boxer announced he had purchased a stake in the league.

Now he has set his aspirations in the mixed martial arts space higher still.

I already have a stake in a company called Super Fight League, which is an MMA company in India and we have a lot of shows in Dubai too, he explained to Declan Taylor for the UK’s Daily Star. “We’re now moving over into America and putting on shows there. Bellator and UFC are the two main MMA companies, we’re probably third after those.”

You never know what will happen in the future – I’d never say no to getting into MMA.

My speed would be perfect, it’s hit and move. And I can kick hard.

I’ve already done MMA training. It’s good for preparing to fight a guy like Canelo who likes to put the pressure on.

I’ve always been a UFC fan and I like McGregor.

But if I was to fight the champion around 147lbs I would fancy my chances. McGregor or whoever.

I was at the last SFL show in Dubai, watching the guys in my weight closely. Even though I have no experience of MMA, I could have stepped in and done the business.

There could be an issue to Khan entering the cage.

“I don’t think my mom would like to see me in a cage fighting,” he said. ‘”Obviously she hates me boxing, let alone being in an MMA fight.”