BOXER AMIR KHAN LIKELY TO RETIRE AFTER LOSING TO BROOK

Sun 20 February 2022:

After a thrashing at the hands of Kell Brook in the sixth round, British boxer Amir Khan says he’s thinking about retiring from the sport.

Khan, 35, was outclassed by compatriot Brook from start to finish in Saturday’s fight and appeared to be in serious trouble before the referee intervened to save him from further punishment.

Brook, 35, had been courting a showdown with an opponent he has come to despise for several years only to be repeatedly rebuffed, but when he was given the chance here, he seized it with both hands in this 149-pound catchweight bout at Manchester’s AO Arena.

Brook shrugged off a raucous welcome to the ring from a crowd largely in support of Khan, who was born and raised in Bolton, and repeatedly left his opponent on rubbery legs with a barrage of punishing head shots.

🗣️ “They’ve tried to get in my head all week, push and poke at me!”

An emotional @SpecialKBrook reacts to victory over Amir Khan.@Boxxer | #KhanBrook pic.twitter.com/y07avyZ43V

— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) February 19, 2022

Khan refused to give in and stayed upright throughout, but he took a lot of punishment and his face was badly bruised when referee Victor Loughlin stepped in 51 seconds into the sixth round to stop the fight.

Khan, fighting at the venue where he first won a world title in 2009, only showed flashes of the form that saw him become a unified light-welterweight champion more than a decade ago as Brook claimed the bragging rights.

Khan, who won silver as a lightweight at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and is a former unified light-welterweight champion, said he was hoping to spend more time with his family.

“It’s something to think about, definitely,” Khan told reporters when he was asked about a potential retirement. “I’ve always said I never want boxing to retire me, I want to retire from boxing.

“Punishment like that sometimes in boxing, I know I showed a big heart and took some big shots today, but sometimes too much of that can be harmful in the future.

“I’ve done more than I ever expected. Maybe I peaked too early, I was at the Olympics at 17, I won the world title at 22. I’m 35 now, I’ve been in the game a very long time, I’m an old man. I want to spend time with my kids and my family.”

🗣️ “Kell was the best man tonight.
🗣️ “The love of the sport is not there anymore.”@amirkingkhan 👊@Boxxer | #KhanBrook pic.twitter.com/C6o3QNs5RA

— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) February 19, 2022

Brook also suggested he might retire at the post-fight press conference.

“I’ve always wanted to have this fight with Amir. I think this grudge match and this is the icing on the cake for me. I can live at peace with myself, with my career,” he said.

“I’ve tried my best, I’ve tried to do everything. You know, do I want to carry on? You know, I feel like a 23-year-old today. I will sit down with my dad and my mum and my immediate family to see if we want to carry on.”

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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