Amir-Khan-boxing-sportstiger

Picture Credit: Twitter

Former British light-welterweight world champion Amir Khan announced his retirement from boxing on Friday. Khan has a record of 34-6 with 21 Knockouts and has won the Olympic lightweight silver medal at the 2004 Athens Games when he was 17 years old. He later went on to win the WBA light-welter belt against Ukrainian Andriy Kotelnyk in 2009 and the IBF title in 2011 when he beat American Zab Judah.

Amir Khan tweeted about his retirement and said, “It’s time to hang up my gloves. I feel blessed to have had such an amazing career that has spanned over 27 years.  I want to say a heartfelt thanks and to the incredible teams I have worked with and to my family, friends and fans for the love and support, they have shown me.”

Love for the sport is not there anymore like it was before: Khan

The 35-year-old had last fought against Kell Brook in February where he suffered a crushing defeat in just six rounds. After the match, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist talked about hanging his boots and retiring from the sport. Khan addressed how being part of 40 fights around the world has been difficult.

He said, “40 fights is a lot of fights - winning two world titles, fighting up and down America and around the world.

“I need to sit down with my family, but I think it is more towards the end of my career now, that my love for the sport is not there anymore like it was before. I used to have that excitement and that push. I just didn’t have it in me I felt quite flat - I think that’s maybe a sign for me to know that I should be calling it a day, but let’s see.

“I just couldn’t get it going - No disrespect to Kell Brook, he put a great performance on, did everything he needed to. He was the best man tonight. I had a great, great training camp, but I just couldn’t get going. I was missing quite a lot. Kell was on his A-game, all respect goes out to him, he added.”