This week, we had the privilege of sitting down and speaking with former two-time boxing world champion and Olympic medalist Amir Khan.
In the interview below, Amir Khan offers his insights on the upcoming heavyweight clash between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois. He also addresses his ongoing issues with Carl Froch and discusses putting his wedding venue up for sale.
Amir Khan Gives His Opinion on Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois
How do you see the fight between AJ vs Dubois going?
“I’m going to the fight, and I don’t want to miss it because it’s a good fight, a good match up, and is an evenly matched fight. Both are powerful, strong, and you would say Anthony Joshua has the most experience. A lot of people will be favoring him, but don’t blink, don’t think Daniel Dubois doesn’t have the skill, power, and speed to win that fight. Look, Dubois is a very dangerous fighter, and he has put on a great fight in his last couple of fights. I feel that he’s got a chance of winning this fight.”
“Anthony Joshua has looked good in his last few fights, but I feel that Dubois has a good chance because he wants to be where Joshua is. Everyone watches and sees where Joshua has got to in the sport of boxing, the big deals and everything, so they want to be there. This is Dubois’ chance to get to that level now but beating Joshua will get him the recognition he wants. This is his big shot to make it to top level boxing.”
So, who do you see winning… AJ or Dubois?
“It’s a really hard fight; it’s who lands first. I think if Joshua lands with a good shot, he’s got the attributes to finish Dubois. Both fighters have the power, speed, and everything to win the fight, but if Joshua boxes the way he won the last fight against Otto Wallin (which really impressed me), and it was punch perfect[..]”
“That’s what he needs to do, stick to his boxing, sticks to his skills, hits and move; then I think that’ll be the best Joshua and he can get the win that way. But if he gets into a brawl, this is where Dubois can start because he is a solid guy and hasn’t been tested in that sense where he has been hurt.”
“Even in the Oleksandr Usyk fight, he took his best shots, and he is very dangerous. He is very strong, but has he got the experience? I think that’s the only thing he really lacks. He lacks it against top opponents outside of Usyk whereas Joshua has been in with so many great names and knows how to handle being under the lights and the pressure. I lean more towards Joshua but it’s a very close fight when it comes down to it because Dubois is no dummy and a very good fighter.”
Khan Discusses the Tension Between Himself and Carl Froch
You and Carl Froch have some friction, why has he criticized you?
“Carl Froch has always been bitter. He’s been a bitter person, and [I] feel like he always has a go at my career and what I’ve done. I’m happy with my career. Who is he to make a comment on what I’ve done and what I’ve not done or should’ve done? I’ve fought all over the world and am happy with my career, but he doesn’t need to make silly opinions. He’s just a negative person, which I find as jealousy. He is a bad apple. I’d rather not even entertain that situation.“
“We’ve met each other and did work together but there was no interaction, no laughs and chats, it was dull. There could be three or four good people there, but when there’s one bad apple, it’ll destroy the whole team. When he was there, nobody was even enjoying it; watching paint dry was better.”
What do you think has caused the friction?
“We’ve never trained together or been in the gym or even spent time together. He shouldn’t really have much to talk about. My career is my career, and your career is your career, and that’s it.”
Do you think he just wants more hits on his YouTube channel?
“If that is what life has come to, making YouTube channels at 45 years old, then it says it all. You want to make a YouTube channel at 45? We’ve got big TV deals and big documentaries, and my man is on YouTube selling himself.”
Khan Looks Towards His Future and Fighting Pacquiao or Mayweather
It would be great to see you in the ring, would you ever make a comeback?
“No, I don’t think I will unless a Floyd Mayweather fight was there. The only two fighters I would make a comeback for is Floyd or Manny Pacquiao. Other than that, no, I’m not interested at all. The thing is, I’ve done it at the highest level and don’t have the fire in my belly anymore. God has been kind, I’m financially strong, going into other things like property, and am living half of my time in Dubai and the UK, as well as going to the States a lot. I’m keeping busy with lots of things.”
Manny Pacquiao’s advisor said if the money was right…
“Manny looked s*** in his last fight, really bad. Manny won’t want to fight me, and I like him. We speak on WhatsApp.”
“They’re looking for a big pay check from Saudi, Qatar, or Dubai, but it’s going to be hard because obviously Saudi and Turki Alalshikh will never do an exhibition fight. If it happens and I’m ever going to consider doing an exhibition, then it will have to be in the next 12 months. Otherwise, I am done from the sport. I’m 90% done from the sport anyway, I don’t have the love for boxing anymore. To motivate myself, it would only have to be Manny or Floyd Mayweather.”
Away from boxing, what is the latest news of your wedding venue in Bolton being up for sale?
“I’ve built it, and now I want to move into something else. I want to buy more things and something different. With the wedding venue, I don’t know how to run the wedding hall. For me, it’s a business where I’m not going to be in it myself. I’m going to have to hand it to someone else to rent it for me. I’ve spent so much money on it, but it’s not nice to not run it yourself. I really want to be hands-on with this, and I’m not. That’s the reason. I thought maybe I should start selling it and going to something else I can be busy with. It’s just sat there and I’m collecting rent.
“It's a nice thing. You’ve set it up yourself, and you’re getting good rent from there, and it's making good money, but when you can’t be in a business and run it yourself or be part of the blood, sweat, and tears, then I think it is different. I finished it all off, and it looks beautiful with all of the weddings. It’s putting smiles on millions of people’s faces.”
Have you had any offers for it?
“A lot of people have been in touch, but nothing serious just yet. People are waiting on interest rates and want to wait for 12 months before buying it. I spend a lot of time in Dubai now and have got my boxing academies with Boxing IQ and have a partnership with WOW HYDRATE, the drink company, so I’m keeping busy. But at the same time, the wedding hall is making me money without doing anything, but I need to keep myself busy and have more of a buzz in an investment.”
“People can think what they want, but I would rather put money into something I would enjoy like football fields, more boxing academies… I’ve got a lot of land in the UK, and the reason why I like to do it stage by stage, so I’d rather sell it and then do something else. I heard some comments saying, ‘Is it because he’s gone broke?’ I live in one of the most expensive countries in the world, Dubai. It’s not just for that, it would be more feasible and smarter if I move into something else. I’ve ticked that box and it’s like having a fight, you have that one fight and move on to another opponent, a different location to fight in.”
Looking for more sports content? Check out our list of the best sportsbooks!
