"The best need to fight the best."
Amir Khan’s boxing journey took him from Bolton to Athens, Las Vegas, and Jeddah. Now, the 38-year-old is heading to Ghana, not as a fighter but as a promoter.
Khan will join forces with Sharaf Mahama, son of former Ghanaian president John Mahama, to launch a new boxing event titled Battle of the Beasts.
Scheduled for June 13, 2025, the fight night will take place in Accra and will be broadcast globally on DAZN.
The card will feature a heavyweight clash between Ghana’s Jacob Dickson and American Andrew Tabiti, marking a new step in Khan’s post-retirement career.
The former Olympic silver medallist and unified world champion is reviving his company, AK Promotions, for the event.
He will work with Ghana’s Legacy Promotions in a bid to boost the visibility of African boxing.
Amir Khan said: “I know the president of Ghana’s son (Mahama) really well.
“Sharaf got in touch with me, and he said, ‘Look, I’d love you to do a boxing show here one day’.
“I thought about it, and then thought, ‘Let’s do it now’. I think it’ll be nice. It’s a good time now, where boxing is still baking all around the world. I decided ‘Yeah, let’s get a couple of fighters together’.”
Throughout his professional career, Khan earned a reputation for his fearless attitude in the ring. He faced elite opponents such as Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, Terence Crawford and Zab Judah.
His risk-taking approach often drew praise but didn’t always lead to victory.
But despite the setbacks, Khan remained one of British boxing’s biggest draws.
Now, he believes his time as a fighter has prepared him for life as a promoter.
Khan continued: “I’ve always wanted to get into promotion myself. Being an ex-fighter, I know exactly how the promotion game works when it comes down to fighters and weights.
“I have the contacts, and this is a good one now for me, because this will show me where the loyalty lies. I’ve made millions for promoters.
“I’ve made big deals happen with Turki Al-Sheikh, with Frank Warren, with Spencer Brown. So this will show me if loyalty is going to be there with all these other promoters.”
Khan, who competed under the banners of Golden Boy Promotions, Top Rank, Matchroom, and Frank Warren, says he now wants to take control.
“I’ve worked with all the promoters from Golden Boy, Top Rank, Eddie (Hearn), Frank Warren, literally, everyone, you name them. This will help me go into the promotion game.”
While Africa has a storied boxing past, most famously hosting the 1974 ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ in Kinshasa, it has not enjoyed the same consistent spotlight as markets in Europe, the US or Saudi Arabia.
With Battle of the Beasts, Khan and Mahama hope to change that narrative.
Mahama said: “This is the first of many.
“Our mission is to build a platform where African fighters shine globally and fans get the unforgettable nights they deserve.”
“The world is watching, and Ghana is ready.”
For Amir Khan, the ambition doesn’t stop with one event. He sees this as the beginning of a long-term mission to promote boxing across the continent.
“The best need to fight the best. We’re dipping our feet in the water this time with this show in Ghana, learning the trade slowly.
“Then we will start doing more and more and more shows.
“It’s amazing to get DAZN on board as well. It’s fun. I want to see what it’s like to be the promoter and not be taking those punches in the ring.
“Normally, it’s me taking the punches in the ring and the promoter sat there relaxing. I want to feel that now.”
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