
Amir Khan
"King Khan"
Division: lightweight
Nationality: England
Hometown: Bolton, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Birth Date: 1986-12-08
Height: 5.9 cm
Reach: 71 cm
Stance: orthodox
Professional Record
34
Wins
(21 by KO)6
Losses
(5 by KO)0
Draws
40
Total Fights
Biography
Amir Khan, born on December 8, 1986, in Bolton, Greater Manchester, is a former British professional boxer who enjoyed a stellar career from 2005 to 2022. Known for his lightning-fast hand speed and precision, Khan held unified light-welterweight world championships between 2009 and 2012, including the WBA (later Super) and IBF titles. His achievements in the ring were complemented by his regional success, including holding the Commonwealth lightweight title from 2007 to 2008 and the WBC Silver welterweight title from 2014 to 2016. Khan also challenged for the WBC and Ring magazine middleweight titles in 2016, solidifying his reputation as one of the sport's most dynamic fighters.
Khan's boxing journey began as a prodigious talent in the amateur ranks, where he achieved international acclaim by winning a silver medal in the lightweight division at the 2004 Athens Olympics at just 17 years old, making him Britain's youngest boxing Olympic medalist. His amateur success laid the foundation for a professional career that saw him rapidly rise through the ranks. Khan made his professional debut in July 2005, and by the age of 22, he had already captured the WBA light-welterweight title, becoming one of the youngest British world champions in history.
Throughout his career, Khan faced and defeated some of the biggest names in boxing, including Marcos Maidana, Zab Judah, and Paulie Malignaggi. He also demonstrated his willingness to take on formidable challenges, moving up two weight divisions to face the then-unified middleweight champion, Canelo Álvarez, in 2016. Despite suffering a knockout loss in that bout, Khan's courage and competitive spirit earned him respect across the boxing world. His career was marked by numerous high-profile fights, with his speed and boxing skills often making him a fan favorite.
Outside the ring, Amir Khan has made significant contributions as a philanthropist, establishing the Amir Khan Foundation and engaging in various charitable endeavors. He is also a promoter and sponsor, owning Khan Promotions and Pakistan's Amir Khan Academy, as well as co-owning India's Super Fight League (MMA) and Super Boxing League. His celebrity status saw him participate in several reality TV shows, including the seventeenth series of "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!" in 2017. Khan's legacy in boxing is not only defined by his achievements inside the ring but also by his contributions to the sport and his charitable work outside it.
Technical Overview
Amir Khan fights like a tactician, skillfully blending his rapid and unorthodox style with strategic elements that recall the battle finesse of ancient warriors. He operates with the precision of a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master, using frames to control his positioning, create angles, and execute punches with pinpoint accuracy. His ability to transition from awkward movement to a razor-sharp fundamental jab is seamless, making his style incredibly difficult to predict. His jab is so refined that it targets the narrow spaces between an opponent's shoulder, neck, and face, forcing them into uncomfortable contortions to defend themselves, while achieving success even against elite fighters like Terence Crawford. Khan’s precision, coupled with his speed and adeptness at slipping and rolling, opens opportunities that only a master can perceive, often frustrating even the most technical opponents.
His fighting style embodies the relentless and calculated nature of ancient military leaders, reminiscent of the Diadochi and Persian wars. Like a Persian commander, he knows when to press forward to apply overwhelming pressure and when to retreat, luring his opponent into range before striking with a lightning-fast jab or rapid combination. Khan's ability to dominate on the offensive mirrors the strategies of Persian generals, who excelled at controlling the battlefield and maneuvering around their foes. Just as Persian forces maintained supremacy over vast territories, Khan leverages his ring intelligence to outmaneuver his opponents, tactically manipulating the space to his advantage. His speed, unconventional angles, and fluid transitions between offense and defense enable him to dismantle an opponent’s game plan, creating openings as if they were orchestrated from the start. He motions in and out, playing with his opponent’s reactions and leading them into counterattacks that fall short as he slips, rolls, and pivots—often simultaneously—establishing a rhythm that is nearly impossible to time.
When retreating, Khan is not merely backing off; he is strategically repositioning, catching his opponents off guard, setting up angles that make him a constant threat, poised to strike as soon as an opportunity presents itself. His control of the ring reflects the tactics of commanders from centuries past who overcame insurmountable odds, transforming challenging terrain into opportunities for counterattacks. Mentally, Khan embodies the spirit of a warrior, demonstrating fortitude through every match and rebounding from setbacks with unyielding determination and confidence in his strategy. His high guard serves as a defensive barrier so intricate that it conceals the extent of any damage incurred, providing him with a psychological edge as he recovers from attacks and counterattacks.
Khan's relentless pursuit of victory, both mentally and physically, distinguishes him from the competition. He consistently moves forward with resilience, forged through years of facing formidable opponents, including those who seek to exploit his technical flaws. Despite any challenges, he has honed his craft to navigate even the most difficult situations. Just as ancient Persian warriors endeavored to carve out their legacy, Khan's performances in the ring continually solidified his status among the most memorable fighters, with a legacy that transcends Great Britain, inspiring athletes worldwide. His style is a captivating blend of modern boxing mastery and time-honored battlefield strategy—a fusion of unrelenting aggression and strategic acumen that establishes him as a formidable force in the
Fight History
09/30/22 vs. Kell Brook, L-TKO, 6/12
07/12/19 vs. Billy Dib, W-TKO, 4/12
04/20/19 vs. Terence Crawford, L-TKO, 6/12
09/08/18 vs. Samuel Vargas, W-UD, 12/12
04/21/18 vs. Phil Lo Greco, W-TKO, 1/12
05/07/16 vs. Saul Alvarez, L-KO, 6/12
05/29/15 vs. Chris Algieri, W-UD, 12/12
12/13/14 vs. Devon Alexander, W-UD, 12/12
05/03/14 vs. Luis Collazo, W-UD, 12/12
04/27/13 vs. Julio Diaz, W-UD, 12/12
12/15/12 vs. Carlos Molina, W-RTD, 10/12
07/14/12 vs. Danny Garcia, L-TKO, 4/12
12/10/11 vs. Lamont Peterson, L-SD, 12/12
07/23/11 vs. Zab Judah, W-KO, 5/12
04/16/11 vs. Paul McCloskey, W-TD-U, 6/12
12/11/10 vs. Marcos Maidana, W-UD, 12/12
05/15/10 vs. Paul Malignaggi, W-TKO, 11/12
12/05/09 vs. Dmitriy Salita, W-TKO, 1/12
07/18/09 vs. Andriy Kotelnik, W-UD, 12/12
03/14/09 vs. Marco Antonio Barrera, W-TD-U, 5/12
12/06/08 vs. Oisin Fagan, W-TKO, 2/12
09/06/08 vs. Breidis Prescott, L-KO, 1/12
06/21/08 vs. Michael Gomez, W-TKO, 5/12
04/05/08 vs. Martin Kristjansen, W-TKO, 7/12
02/02/08 vs. Gairy St Clair, W-UD, 12/12
12/08/07 vs. Graham Earl, W-TKO, 1/12
10/06/07 vs. Scott Lawton, W-TKO, 4/12
07/14/07 vs. Willie Limond, W-RTD, 8/12
04/07/07 vs. Stefy Bull, W-TKO, 3/8
02/17/07 vs. Mohammed Medjadji, W-TKO, 1/8
12/09/06 vs. Rachid Drilzane, W-UD, 10/10
09/02/06 vs. Ryan Barrett, W-TKO, 1/6
07/08/06 vs. Colin Bain, W-TKO, 2/6
05/20/06 vs. Laszlo Komjathi, W-PTS, 6/6
02/25/06 vs. Jackson Williams, W-TKO, 3/6
01/28/06 vs. Vitali Martynau, W-TKO, 1/6
12/10/05 vs. Daniel Thorpe, W-TKO, 2/4
11/05/05 vs. Steve Gethin, W-TKO, 3/4
09/10/05 vs. Baz Carey, W-PTS, 4/4
07/16/05 vs. David Bailey, W-TKO, 1/4