British star Amir Khan was slated to fight eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao in the United Arab Emirates earlier this year but that deal fell through over money problems.

The Filipino instead took on little-regarded Australian Jeff Horn in Brisbane last weekend and suffered a stunning controversial points loss to the former schoolteacher. Khan knows what his former sparring partner is going through, as the Bolton boxer believes he was robbed of a decision win when he faced Lamont Peterson in his backyard in 2011.

"I don't think Pacquiao lost, he lost on paper," Khan said. "This is boxing, it's happened to me, it's happened to many fighters. You can't sulk about it. You just have to go back, have the rematch and beat him.

"We all know Manny is the better fighter. I just think he should have gone in there and knocked him out. Because sometimes fighting somebody in their own backyard is quite difficult to win with the advantages he has."

Khan also did not rule out securing a bout against Pacquiao in the future.

"Maybe the Pacquiao fight will happen later, it's all about timing," he said. "Maybe Manny Pacquiao didn't feel confident to take the fight with me this time, maybe he will take it next time."

Khan has not fought since May 2016, when he moved up two divisions to take on middleweight Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, a sixth-round knockout loss that he admits was a mistake he would not be repeating any time soon.

"It's now all about making the right choices for me, making sure I don't take fights that I don't need... like going up two weight categories," he said.

"It was a mistake. But if you have to do something which is not ordinary, you have to go do something crazy. That would have taken me to a different level. So you have to take big risks. But it can be damaging for your career."

Khan was in Mumbai to promote the franchise-based Super Boxing League which runs from July 7 to Aug. 12, will be televised live by Sony ESPN and is backed by the World Boxing Council (WBC).