Boxing: Khan considering retirement after crushing defeat against Brook

British boxer Amir Khan suggested that he is considering retirement from the sport after suffering a comprehensive defeat with a sixth-round TKO at the hands of Kell Brook on Saturday.

The 35-year-old Khan was outclassed by compatriot Brook from start to finish, and looked to be in dire straits before the referee stepped in to save him from any more punishment.

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."

(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by William Mallard)

-reuters-

Boxing: Crawford stops Khan to retain WBO welterweight title

NEW YORK -- American Terence Crawford retained his WBO welterweight title Saturday, stopping Amir Khan in the sixth round when the Englishman was unable to continue because of an accidental low blow.

Crawford, who was making the second defence of his title, had little trouble controlling the fight and winning by a technical knockout against the overmatched Khan.

Crawford has now won nine of his last 11 fights by stoppage and Saturday's surprise ending happened after he hit Khan with a hard left to the groin 47 seconds into the sixth round at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Khan buckled and was in obvious pain as he went over to his corner. During the injury stoppage, Khan's trainer Virgil Hunter asked his boxer if he wanted to continue and Khan said no. Khan could have taken a five minute break to regain his composure but chose not to.

Three division world champion Crawford improved to 35 wins and no losses.

Crawford, who is considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, sent Khan to the canvas in the first round with an overhand right followed by a left to the temple. He delivered a similar overhand punch in the last 10 seconds of the round which wobbled Khan's legs again.

The next couple of rounds saw the 146-pound Crawford throwing almost all his punches at the head of Khan. By the fourth round Crawford was in complete control and Khan's face was showing the wear of getting hit with clean punches.

Crawford started going to the body in the fourth and in the fifth he got his jab working again, popping Khan's head back with a series of quick shots.

For Khan, the 2004 Olympic silver medallist, it was another disappointing world title fight. He is 2-2 in his last four fights.

Three years ago he was brutally knocked out by Canelo Alvarez in a middleweight title fight. Saturday's fight dropped his record in world title fights to 6-4 overall.

In between the Alvarez fight and Saturday's TKO loss, Khan won two straight bouts against lesser opponents.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Pacquiao-Khan showdown is possible: Arum

A bout between former sparring partners Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan is possible for 2016, according to Top Rank chief executive Bob Arum.

Khan, who was snubbed by unbeaten American Floyd Mayweather Jr. for a September 12 fight date, has turned his attention to Pacquiao, his former stable mate back when they were both trained by Freddie Roach.

"If he (Mayweather) is not going to man up and fight me, then I'll have to fight Manny Pacquiao or someone like that," Khan said in a recent interview. "I really believe that fight can be made easily. I think Manny is a man and he would definitely take that fight."

In an interview with The Telegraph, Arum said he can make it happen.

"This kid, Amir Khan, keeps shooting his mouth off about Manny Pacquiao," he said. "I can arrange for Khan to fight Pacquiao."

"Amir Khan has been begging Mayweather for a fight, and now he can get a major fight. I'm not a hard guy to deal with. I'm not going to mess them around," he added.

But Arum made it clear that the fight can't happen in 2015 as Pacquiao is still recovering from the shoulder injury that he sustained while training for his May 2 "Fight of the Century" against Mayweather. It can be held next year in the Middle East, said the promoter.

"He'll fight early next year, and probably in the Middle East. Vegas is a possibility, but more likely in the Middle East. It won't be in Dubai, but it will be in the Middle East. If not, we'll do it in Vegas," said Arum.

One thing that Arum is sure of is that Pacquiao will win against Khan.

"It's a good fight. Manny beats him, though, in my opinion," he said. "Manny is getting up in age, so you never know what's going to happen. But I think he hits too hard for Khan."

Arum does feel that Khan should have been given the chance to fight Mayweather, and is disappointed that the unbeaten American chose Andre Berto as his opponent.

"That's a farce," Arum said of the Mayweather-Berto match-up. "Mayweather should have fought Khan next. It would have been an interesting fight."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Khan blasts 'childish' Floyd, looks forward to Pacquiao bout

MANILA – Former world champion Amir Khan of Britain has once again lashed out at Floyd Mayweather Jr. after the unbeaten American superstar last week formally announced that he will fight Andre Berto in September.

Khan has repeatedly challenged Mayweather to a fight, most notably after his victory over Chris Algieri in late May. The American, however, did not rise to the bait, and instead picked Berto, another former world champion, as his opponent for what he says will be his final fight.

When asked about Khan, Mayweather suggested that he should first try to avenge a loss to Danny Garcia that came in 2012, much to the dismay of the British boxer.

"He's just putting all these obstacles in front of me, because he knows that I'm obviously a big threat to him," Khan said, as quoted by Sky Sports. "Work it out. Look at my last few opponents, and he's fighting Berto."

"No disrespect to Berto, who is a friend of mine, but obviously, there are levels in boxing," he added.

Berto has gone only 3-3 in his last six fights, and the announcement that he will be Mayweather's opponent was mostly met with derision and disappointment by fans and boxing media alike.

"I think he's just being a little childish," Khan said of Mayweather. "He knows that Amir Khan will give him a tough fight, and he's kind of avoiding it."

Khan says he still has a lot of options, including a potential fight with countryman Kell Brook, as well as a showdown with former sparring partner Manny Pacquiao.

"If he (Mayweather) is not going to man up and fight me, then I'll have to fight Manny Pacquiao, or someone like that. Someone who would fight me," he added.

Khan further said that he believes the Pacquiao fight "can be made quite easily."

"I think Manny is a man, and he would definitely take that fight," he added.

Pacquiao cannot fight until 2016 as the Filipino icon is still recovering from a shoulder injury that he aggravated during his May 2 loss to Mayweather in their "Fight of the Century."

Pacquiao and Khan were stable mates and sparring partners until 2012, when Khan left Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym and hired Virgil Hunter as his trainer.

 

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pacquiao open to fight Amir Khan in UK

MANILA, Philippines – It looks like British fighter Amir Khan will get his dream fight soon.

Manny Pacquiao, the eight division champion from the Philippines, is willing to fight his former training partner.

Pacquiao, who is set to square off against Chris Algieri this weekend, even said he is open to the possibility of facing Khan in Britain.

“A fight with Amir would be an exciting fight. I can fight him anywhere, even in England,” the Filipino fighter was quoted as saying by the UK paper Telegraph.

“I don't know how much longer I will fight. I’d like to retire in the next few years, so for now I am willing to face anybody,” he added.

Khan has been actively pursuing a bout against Pacquiao and American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. However, the undefeated American has been elusive in fighting either Pacquiao or Khan.

The Briton thinks the Filipino champion will be a tougher challenge compared to Mayweather.

“Mayweather would be a very technical fight, like a game of chess,” Khan said in a previous interview. “But I think Manny would be harder. He’s much more aggressive and it would be more intense.”

Khan has already experienced fighting Pacquiao as they used to spar back when they were both training under Freddie Roach.

“Me and Manny sparred a lot, and I often went with him to the Philippines, so it would make a great fight,” he said.

Khan, however, broke ties with Roach in 2012 in search for a new coach. He claims to have improved a lot under defense specialist Virgil Hunter.

“With my trainer Virgil Hunter, I’m a much better and more defensive fighter,” he said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com