Amir Khan announces his retirement from boxing at the age of 35

‘It’s time to hang up my gloves’: Amir Khan confirms his RETIREMENT from boxing at the age of 35 after suffering defeat in his final fight to long-term rival Kell Brook in February

• Amir Khan has confirmed his retirement from boxing at the age of 35 on Friday
• He said it was time to ‘hang up the gloves’ in a statement on social media
• Khan suffered a defeat to his long-term rival Kell Brook in his last in-ring bout
• He now follows Brook into retirement, after focusing on boxing for 27 years 

Amir Khan has announced his retirement from boxing at the age of 35, three months after suffering a defeat to his bitter rival Kell Brook. 

The former unified light-welterweight champion and 2004 Athens Olympics silver medalist, steps out of the sport with a record of 34-6, in which he has lost three of his last six bouts.

The Bolton-born fighter was stopped by Brook in the sixth round of their much anticipated grudge match.

He now follows Brook into retirement, after the 36-year-old confirmed his own plans last week – leaving the sport with a record of 40-3. 

During Khan’s career he fought against the likes of Canelo Alvarez, Marcos Maidana Carlos Molina and Devon Alexander.

In a message on his Twitter account he wrote: ‘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.’

Former world champion Amir Khan has announced his retirement from boxing at the age of 35

In his prime Khan was the unified super light-welterweight champion and is seen posing here after beating American boxer Zab Judah for the IBF belt back in July 2011 in Las Vegas

He first came to attention in 2004 when he picked up a silver medal at the Athens Olympics

Khan’s professional career began in the summer of 2005 when he beat David Bailey in Bolton

Khan’s in-ring activity had been very limited in recent years, with his fight against Brook in February, the first match he has had since beating Billy Dib in July 2019. 

He had hinted at retirement after the fight, though it has taken until now for him to officially confirm his exit from the ring.   

After his defeat to Brook, he said: ‘I need to sit down with my family but it is more towards the end of my career. The love of the sport isn’t there any more. That is a sign for me that I should maybe be calling it a day.’

Khan suffered defeat to long term rival Kell Brook in his final bout back in February this year

Khan then doubled down on his claim while speaking at the post-fight press conference. ‘I’ve done more than I ever imagined… I’m an old man now,’ he said. ‘I want to spend time with my kids.

‘People talk about Benn-Eubank, Froch-Groves, this is one of those fights they’ll remember. I’ve made tonnes of money, but there was this thing missing – that legacy fight.’

Khan had reportedly been weighing up his options despite calls suggesting that he should retire.

Khan lost six fights during his career including to pound-for-pound No 1 Canelo Alvarez

Albanian Florian Marku had been touted as a potential future match after stopping Chris Jenkins to extend his unbeaten record to 11-0-1 in Newcastle last month. 

He began his professional career in July 2005, a year after reaching the final of the men’s lightweight boxing competition in Athens.

Khan beat David Bailey at the age of 18 and his unbeaten record was stopped at 18 in a shock defeat to Colombian Breidis Prescott in a first-minute knock-out in Manchester. 

He became a world champion in July 2009 by beating Andriy Kotelnik on points to secure the WBA super-lightweight title, before stopping Zab Judah to add the IBF belt two years later.

A close defeat to Lamont Peterson ended his world title reign before he was halted by Danny Garcia while attempting to win the WBC and WBA belts.

He also held the WBC Silver welterweight title and challenged for the WBC and Ring middleweight titles in 2016 when he lost to the current pound-for-pound number one boxer in the world Canelo Alvarez.

The boxer married Faryal Makhdoom at the Waldorf Astoria in New York before flying back to Bolton where a second celebration too place in Manchester with 4,000 guests.

Khan pictured with his wife Faryal Makhdoom a year after their reconciliation in 2017

Khan announced in September 2017 they had filed for divorce following the couple’s very public break up in which they both accused each other of cheating.

The pair were later pictured that year, as Khan stated that he and his wife had reconciled. 

His rival Brook said that he wanted to bow out ‘with all my faculties intact’ due to the danger of the sport. 

‘I’ve had a long chat with my family and my parents, and it’s over for me. I’ll never box again,’ Brook told the Sunday Telegraph.

‘It’s a little emotional to be actually saying this out loud. My mum is relieved. I think everyone around me is pleased.

‘Truth is, boxing is a very very tough, dangerous sport, one in which you can be legally killed in the ring, and I’ve finished now with all my faculties intact.’

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