Is Amir Khan Losing Focus on his Ring Career?

By Olly Campbell - 10/02/2015 - Comments

With Bob Arum seemingly U-Turning on his claim “not to be looking at any other opponent for Manny Pacquiao” other than Amir Khan – [later claiming Lucas Matthysse has moved up the pecking order] – it would seem the British former 140 lb champion might be losing his heart for elite level boxing, insisting he sees a future in charity work.

British media is today awash with stories that the Muslim fighter is intent on devoting himself to charitable causes after a recent “mercy-mission” to Greece to help Islamic refugees fleeing the crisis in war-torn Syria, an endeavour he undertook entirely voluntarily and at considerable personal expense, when it emerged he had lost out on the mega-money fight with Floyd Mayweather.

It’s also looking increasingly likely Khan will not box in December either, as he often does, and after comments made by his trainer Virgil Hunter recently, [at the Mayweather/Berto media scrum] regarding the decreasing time he devotes to training as of late, one wonders how much longer he will choose to fight on for – especially if he does secure a cash-out fight with “plan-b,” Manny Pacquiao next year?

“After my boxing career ends, it is charity that I want to get into full-time,” he said, talking about his decision to help with the refugee crisis in whatever way he can. “I want to make a difference and help people around the world, that is something I really want to do.”

The 28 year old multi-millionaire also went on to explain that he sees life differently as he gets older, placing far less focus on material goods and wealth, insisting he would also give up some of the various properties he owns to allow refugees to live in them instead.

“I’ve got a good little portfolio of properties, I’ve got 20 or 30, all over the country and a little bit abroad, as well,” he said. “I’m not [flash] like I used to be. Them days I’ve put behind me. I know I could go and buy anything I wanted but I would rather do charity work now.

““I still like the watches but it’s about balancing it as well, and I think I do. If I have to buy something, I do three times as much charity work.”

The comments are unlikely to enthuse fans desperate to see Khan fight domestic rival and IBF welterweight champion, Kell Brook, as one has to wonder if he will call it a day sooner than anticipated – especially if he DOES land a big money bout with the Filipino superstar, who himself has arguably been on a visible decline since the loss to Marquez in 2012.

Since being knocked out by Danny Garcia the same year and moving up to 147, Khan has ostensibly avoided fighting anybody with real power, and has also shown a reluctance to face a bone-fide welterweight, choosing instead to fight natural 135 and 140 lb guys like Julio Diaz and Chris Algieri, with whom he struggled against in New York back in May.

It’s estimated Khan has accrued a net worth of around $30 million (US) since turning professional following his Athens 2004 silver medal.

Twitter @Undilutedpoison