Amir Khan says “I think I’ve made my mind up” on Boxing Career

Amir Khan, a name that resonates deeply within British boxing folklore.

A precocious talent, catapulted into the limelight with an Olympic silver medal at just 17 years of age. He became a unified light-welterweight world champion, known for blistering hand speed and heart.

His career was a rollercoaster. Thrilling victories, devastating knockouts, cross-Atlantic stardom, and intense domestic rivalries filled his journey.

Khan always brought excitement, whether in victory or defeat.

Khan never shied away from a challenge, facing legends and moving weights.

Now, the gloves are hung up. Or are they?

Retirement in boxing is often a fluid concept. Fighters yearn for the roar of the crowd, the discipline of camp, the thrill of combat.

Amir Khan, speaking from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, offered insights into his current mindset.

He finds himself observing the sport he once dominated. The landscape has shifted, particularly with the seismic impact of Middle Eastern investment. Big fights happen frequently, a change Khan eyes with wistful reflection.

Now officially retired since his bout with Kell Brook, Khan observes the sport from a different perspective. Speaking with IFL TV’s Kugan Cassius, he shared thoughts on boxing’s current landscape.

The question of a comeback always follows retired fighters. While Khan seems focused on new ventures, his reflections reveal a complex relationship with the sport that defined him. Has the curtain truly fallen?

Khan Lauds Boxing’s Middle East Boom

From his vantage point, Khan expresses his genuine enthusiasm for its current vibrancy, saying passionately: “Boxing is on a boom at the moment.”

He sees the frequent high-profile clashes as a positive shift.

Khan feels much credit goes to Turki Alalshikh and the Riyadh Season initiative, saying:

“They are taking boxing to a different level, brought it back alive again.”

He praises their influence as being transformative for the sport’s visibility and marvels at the ability to stack cards with multiple “massive fights”, something rarer during his own peak years.

Khan referenced recent upsets and performances, like Ryan Garcia’s loss and Teofimo Lopez’s win. He noted Devin Haney’s skill, stating: “He’s a good boxer. He did what he had to do.”

There’s a hint of longing in his voice while accepting the timing:

“I mean, I wish it was around when I was a fighter. We would have done really well.”

Khan concedes: “But look, it is what it is. We’re here now to support the next generation.” His focus seems shifted towards nurturing future stars, a theme he revisits often.

King Khan Abdicated? Retirement Reflections and Gorilla Tactics

Amir Khan maintains he is content in retirement. His two-year UKAD suspension for testing positive for Ostarine after the Kell Brook fight officially ended in April 2024, but Khan insists his fighting days are over.

Khan stated: “Happily retired, enjoying life. Not getting hit.”

Yet, the fighting spirit lingers playfully.

When Cassius posed the viral hypothetical “100 Amir Khans vs 1 Gorilla”, Khan erupted in laughter:

“Most of the people said, ‘Nah mate, one gorilla would destroy more than 100 of us’.” He conceded the logic, citing the gorilla’s raw power.

He was further amused by hearing Mike Tyson’s graphic strategy for the same scenario.

“Oh bro… No way, that’s crazy! Only Mike Tyson would say that,” Khan laughed, acknowledging Tyson’s unique intensity.

While enjoying retirement, he left the door slightly ajar.

Only one person, he joked, might tempt him back: “Only person to bring me back is Turki Alalshikh, I think.”

But he quickly refocused: “I think I’ve made my mind up.”

Affirming his contentment. His energy is now channelled into his promotional company and family life.

His long-standing rivalry with Kell Brook also came up. Khan now speaks warmly of his former nemesis:

“Look, after fighting Kell Brook and getting to know him and speaking to him, he’s a very nice guy.”

“And I do regret like we never really got going on with each other back in the day… but then again, it promoted the fight, didn’t it?”

On advising Brook to call out the winner of the Conor Benn-Chris Eubank Jr fight, which ended up being cancelled back then, Khan says:

“I spoke to Kell before the fight… I said, ‘Listen bro, this is where you have to call the winner out’.

“One thing about Kell, he’s got good timing. And he would give problems to either or, you know what I mean?”

However, Khan understands Brook’s likely motivation now, saying:

“Brook should take that one if the money’s right… I know Brook, what’s going to only motivate him is the prize money… Otherwise, I don’t think he’s going to interest… take, take punches off a young lion when you don’t need to.”

Highlighting the only kind of incentives older boxers might consider for future bouts, to make them worthwhile.

Weighing In: Khan on Benn, Eubank, and the Scales

Benn vs Eubank Jr eventually took place on April 26, 2025, and was a classic. But the weight-cutting Eubank Jr had to do was a big talking point.

Khan, who himself jumped weight classes, offered his perspective on the weight-draining aspect.

He expressed significant respect for Conor Benn’s perceived performance and aggressive mentality during the build-up.

“Conor Benn, I mean, fought out of his skin, giving that weight away, looking the stronger fighter… Conor did not give a damn. He just saw red in there… Honestly, watching that fight, I was like, ‘Yo, like, he’s got that different mentality that he wanted to win’.”

Khan believes Benn has huge potential, saying: “So big respect to Conor for that fight. I mean, if he keeps boxing like that, bro, he’s going to give a lot of people problems. He will destroy a lot of the top guys in the game.”

Regarding Eubank Jr, Khan sympathised with the weight-cut challenges:

“Yeah, you know what, but I think that was quite hard on him [Eubank Jr.]. I think what was it, like an ounce or two?… Like literally nothing… And obviously, he went down a weight to get this fight done. And they charged him as well, what was it, half a million?

“Okay, Conor Benn [received the fine money]. Well, you know what, it’s okay… at the end of the day, both fighters had to make weight.”

Khan believed Eubank Jr looked drained trying to make the weight.

The weight itself was a major talking point. Khan, familiar with negotiating fight terms, implicitly understood the risks both fighters took agreeing to the 160lb limit. Benn moved up significantly, Eubank Jr drained down.

The situation highlighted the dangerous game fighters play with weight.

Khan’s comments reflected his experience with the physical and contractual complexities involved in such high-stakes matchups.

Beyond the Ropes: Khan’s Vision for Promotion in Ghana

Amir Khan’s focus is clearly shifting towards his post-fighting career, particularly Khan Promotions. He spoke excitedly about an upcoming event scheduled for June 2025 in Ghana, saying:

“Gonna start the promotion thing now because I think I left it for a very long time…”

This venture isn’t just about staging fights; it’s about creating platforms.

Khan highlighted the card featuring recognisable names like Ohara Davies and Brandon Scott, asserting: “Yeah, so it’s a good show, you know.

“I know boxing inside out, I love boxing and I just want to kind of see what the next talent… bring the next talent up.

“And my aim would be like, obviously to aim high, you know what I mean?

“We want the next Amir Khan or the next, like, Naseem Hamed…”

His ambition extends beyond single events. He sees a gap in opportunities for specific groups of fighters.

He feels young Asian and African boxers are often overlooked.

“A lot of our young Asians out there feel that they’re not getting the opportunities in boxing. And this is where I want to come in… And not only for that, I mean look, we want to put on great shows.”

He aims that Khan Promotions can rectify that imbalance.

The Ghana show exemplifies this. Khan says: “It’s gonna be… a lot of Ghanaian fighters are on there, some amazing talented fighters.”

He mentioned the valuable support received locally. “We’ve got the President’s son… also supporting… legacy promotion,” Khan noted, indicating high-level backing for his venture in Ghana.

This promotional path allows Khan to stay deeply involved in boxing. It lets him leverage his experience and global profile to nurture talent and shape the sport’s future from outside the ring.

His passion for identifying and building fighters is clear. It’s a new chapter, applying lessons learned over a long, decorated career to help the next generation succeed.

Promoter Politics: Loyalty, Legacy, and Looking Ahead

Khan’s extensive career saw him work with nearly every major promoter. He name-checked Frank Warren, Eddie Hearn, and Golden Boy Promotions (Oscar De La Hoya), saying:

“And also what I want to see as well… is that I want to see the loyalty from the promoters who I’ve made millions for… from the Frank Warrens to Eddie Hearns and all of them, Golden Boy… You know I worked with every promoter out there, literally.”

Having generated substantial revenue for these entities, Khan now hopes for some reciprocity: “I want them to show a bit of love now and support.”

He believes the promoters he enriched should offer assistance, suggesting:

“Pick up the phone and say ‘Amir, any help you need? We got a few fighters here’.”

Amir Khan emphasised his own loyalty, promising, indicating a willingness to work together, constructively saying: “I’m the type of guy that I’ll give it back ten times more.”

He specifically discussed Eddie Hearn’s trajectory. Khan recalled Hearn starting out during his own peak years and expressed admiration for Hearn’s success:

“Eddie Hearn is a good promoter. When he promotes something, Eddie knows how to promote shows.

“Respect where it’s due, Eddie has done so well. I mean, I’m so proud of him… he might be a little bit better than his dad (Barry Hearn), in my opinion… he’s getting the fighters.

“And what I like about Eddie, he’s gone to America and he’s taking the talent from there as well… he’s doing shows all around the world now.”

Amir Khan understands the importance of networks and hopes his past contributions foster future support for Khan Promotions.

His call for loyalty underscores the often-complex dynamics between fighters and promoters. As Khan transitions fully into his promoter role, navigating these relationships will be key to his venture’s success.

To Retire or Not to Retire?

Amir Khan sits at a fascinating crossroads. The roar of the crowd has faded, replaced by the strategic intricacies of promotion.

His fighting days, despite the playful hint about Turki Alalshikh, seem to be genuinely behind him.

“Happily retired, enjoying life. Not getting hit. Just sitting back, laying back, chilling, living life.”

“I don’t want to come back. Look, unless there’s a massive amazing offer out there, but look, who knows? Only person to bring me back is Turki Alalshikh, I think.”

His two-year ban served as a definitive punctuation mark, solidifying his retirement rather than sparking a comeback desire. He speaks like a man who has processed his career, celebrating the highs and accepting the lows, saying:

“I think I’ve made my mind up. I’m just enjoying the sport now.

“I think I’ve done everything, I’ve ticked all the boxes. Now it’s all about the promotion side now.”

The passion for boxing remains undimmed, merely redirected.

His focus on Khan Promotions, particularly nurturing talent in overlooked regions like Ghana, shows a desire to give back and shape the sport’s future.

He observes the current boxing boom with a mix of admiration and wistful “what ifs.” But contentment seems his dominant emotion. He ticked the boxes, achieved glory, and now embraces a new role.

While the heart of a fighter never truly disappears, King Khan appears ready and genuinely enthusiastic to reign over his new promotional kingdom. The next chapter promises to be compelling.