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-

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