Khan was always an exciting come-forward boxer, whose speed helped him blast his way to a world title shot in 2009. Against all the odds, the teenager was only denied by Cuban legend Mario Kindelan, and he left Athens with a silver medal to embark on a professional career. That quality, along with Khan's courage, defined his outstanding career that began when he was thrust into the limelight aged 17 as Great Britain's only boxing representative at the 2004 Olympics. Even until the end in fleeting moments against Brook, Khan's blurring handspeed was still as fast as ever. Khan told ESPN in February before facing Brook: "Financially I don't need to fight on because I've achieved what I want in the sport."įacing Brook was the only fight remaining for Khan, and the fight illustrated that Khan was still a big draw, just as he was when he turned professional 17 years ago.īut retiring now ensures Khan is not remembered for unwisely over-staying his time as a prizefighter. Khan will be remembered in the ring for his thrilling, fast-handed attacking style a five-defence reign as world junior welterweight champion from 2009 to 2011 a thrilling win against Marcos Maidana in 2010 a controversial points defeat to Lamont Peterson in 2011 a shocking KO loss to Breidis Prescott in 2008 big fights (and stoppage losses) to Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Terence Crawford, and one last attention-grabbing fight with Brook. I want to spend time with my family and kids." "I've had a great career, got knocked down, got back up. I want to be able to enjoy the pay cheques. Such an unequivocal end to a long-awaited clash with Brook left Khan (34-6, 21 KOs) a long way from the welterweight elite, and his days as a world champion are more than a decade ago.Īfter losing to Brook, who was too strong and powerful, in front of a capacity crowd of 20,000 at the Manchester Arena, Khan said: "I always said I will retire from boxing, boxing won't retire me, and too much punishment can be harmful for the future. Ex-champ Kell Brook had nothing more to fight for The former unified world junior welterweight, who fought some of the best boxers in his era, has suffered three emphatic stoppage defeats in his last six fights and a sixth-round stoppage loss to English rival Kell Brook which became painful to watch in February. World titles, and a long-standing legacy: Amir Khan retires from boxingĪmir Khan's announcement of his retirement aged 35 was both inevitable and a relief, delivered at the right time after a career as one of the most well-known boxers from the United Kingdom in recent history. Khan, who was a unified world champion at light-welterweight, said he looked into the handgun’s barrel when the robber pointed it weapon in his face and told him: “Take off the watch.”Ĭampbell, from Hornsey, and Bana, from Tottenham, both in north London, have admitted to conspiracy to commit robbery and possession of an imitation firearm.You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser The robbery, which lasted only seconds, was captured on CCTV, the footage of which has been played to the jury. Mr Mohamed said Bana had arranged with him to come to meet the group to buy cannabis. “Ahmed said, ‘No way, what’s he doing there?’ I said, ‘He’s probably breaking fast’.” “I said, ‘Guess who’s in the restaurant Sahara Grill with us? Amir Khan, the boxer,” he said. Mr Mohamed said he then told Bana about the sportsman’s presence during a phone call. Hamza pointed him out and said, ‘That’s Amir Khan, the boxer’.” “I didn’t know who Amir Khan was,” he said. Screengrab taken from CCTV showing the moment former world boxing champion Amir Khan was robbed at gunpoint.
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