AMIR Khan believes his ring return will likely be towards the end of the summer.

The Bolton fighter had hoped to be in action during the first part of 2020 but it now looks like being at least July before the former unified world super-lightweight champion takes part in his 40th professional fight.

The 33-year-old's last outing was his knockout win over Billy Dib in Saudi Arabia last July meaning a full year will have elapsed before he steps through the ropes again.

Khan has always insisted he will be in some fights against the sport's biggest names before he retires.

A battle of Britain with Kell Brook looks unlikely however, the Sheffield fighter seemingly on a collision course with Liverpool's Liam Smith, who trains under Joe Gallagher in Bolton, after returning to action by stopping American Mark DeLuca earlier this month.

"I want to fight maybe after Ramadan," Khan said.

"I’m in training, doing a little bit here and there but with Ramadan. maybe it will be towards the end of summer.

"I want to get back in there."

Khan should have been ringside in Las Vegas on Saturday night as Tyson Fury dominated Deontay Wilder to win the WBC World heavyweight title.

The birth of third child Muhammad meant he was back home with wife Faryal.

Khan tuned in to the fight that has got the world talking though and is crystal clear about what should happen next.

Wilder has the right to call for a third fight between the duo, the first meeting having ended in a draw in December 2018, but British fight fans are keen to see one fight and one fight alone – a unification battle with Anthony Joshua, who holds the other three world titles. 

"I don’t think there’s any point in another rematch," Khan told BBC Radio Manchester. 

"It would still sell with the power that Wilder has, people just don’t know what’s going to happen with him.

"But the big one the people want and we all want to see the AJ fight.

"It will probably be one of the biggest sporting events in the UK.

"Is it going to happen? We don’t know. Both promoters have said they want the fight, Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn.

"Now the pressure’s on."