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Amir Khan follows rival Kell Brook by confirming his retirement from boxing

Amir Khan

Khan won two world titles and an Olympic silver medal for Team GB but has now decided to call it quits after his defeat to Kell Brook.

Amir Khan has announced his retirement from boxing.

The 35-year-old tasted a sixth-round defeat to Kell Brook in February but was expected to continue fighting according to promoter Ben Shalom.

However, after having time to reflect, Khan has decided to call time on his glittering career. 

In a statement, Khan 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."

Khan's career should be celebrated

A baby-faced Amir Khan did the UK proud in 2004 when he won silver at the 2004 Olympics.
The Bolton star instantly became the posterboy of British boxing and turned over to the professional ranks under Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren.

Despite a shock defeat to unknown Colombian Breidis Prescott, Khan went on to win world honours in his 22nd fight, outpointing Andreas Kotelnik for the WBA light welterweight title in 2009.

Khan went on to become a huge star in the United States, beating Paulie Malignaggi, Marcos Maidana and unifying the 140lb division against Zab Judah in 2011.
'King' Khan is most remembered for his incredible fight against Maidana - which he won via unanimous decision. The Boxing Writers Association of America named it as Fight of the Year in 2010.
Lamont Peterson handed him a second professional defeat with a controversial split-decision win in Washington although Khan was reinstated as WBA champion after Peterson failed a drugs test.

Other world title challenges

Following a second successive defeat - this time to Danny Garcia - Khan moved up to welterweight under Freddie Roach to chase the likes of Floyd Mayweather.

Wins over Devon Alexander and Chris Algieri saw Khan linked to Mayweather but the fight never came to fruition. Instead, he fought Canelo Alvarez at a catchweight of 155lbs for the WBC and Ring Magazine middleweight world titles in 2016.

Despite winning the first three rounds, Khan got brutally knocked out in the fifth, and quite simply, he was never the same again.

A couple of comeback wins over Phil Lo Greco and Samuel Vargas got him back in contention under Eddie Hearn, but rather than choosing to fight Kell Brook, he challenged Terence Crawford for the WBO welterweight title. Khan got crushed inside six rounds.

What is his legacy?

Khan suffered six defeats in his career, but by the age of 24 he was a unified world champion and was a huge draw in America.

Khan will argue his greatest achievement is his work outside of boxing as a philanthropist.

The Amir Khan Foundation has built homes in Gambia, providing clothing items and shelter to more than 10,000 Syrians and during the global pandemic, Khan helped 20,000 families in the UK and Pakistan with food and water.

There is no doubt about the legacy of Khan in Britain - he retires as a legend.

READ MORE: Amir Khan deserves a knighthood by Her Majesty and 2022 should be the year

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