Amir Khan on Career: “I Don’t Want to Get Hurt Anymore. Maybe I’ll Call It a Day.”
In a grudge match at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England “King” Amir Khan (34-6, 21 KOs) was stopped in six rounds by bitter rival Kell Brook (40-3, 28 KOs). Hurt repeatedly throughout, the former unified junior welterweight champion never gained any footing in the bout. He was overpowered and pummeled.
RETIREMENT ON HIS MIND
Afterward, many pundits began questioning if this was the end for Khan. Speaking to SecondsOut, he explained that he never felt like himself against Brook. The speed was there, but the reaction to Brook’s punches failed him badly. When it came to the possibility of retirement, he acknowledged that the writing is on the wall.
“Look, I’ve got a beautiful family, and I’ve made tons of money in the sport of boxing. I think it’s time when I need to spend time with my loved ones. I don’t want to get hurt anymore. Actually, I was one punch away from getting hurt […] There’s no point in risking it now. I think it’s time to maybe call it a day.”
NEVER ABLE TO OVERCOME HIS FATAL FLAW
At age 35, “King” Khan is an accomplished warrior. You’re not a slouch if you win multiple world titles. His hand and footspeed were abnormal. However, his biggest weakness has always been a lack of punch resistance.
It was exposed in his first loss as a pro, a shocking first-round KO defeat to Breidis Prescott in September 2009. Despite dusting himself off to win world titles, that giant liability kept creeping up during his career. Most of his defeats have come by way of stoppage.
Against Brook, he didn’t just lose. He was rag-dolled and beaten pillar to post. When Khan said there’s no reason to take this kind of punishment anymore, most fans and pundits would collectively say,’ amen!’ At this point, retiring sounds like his most sensible option.
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By: Michael Wilson Jr.
