Amir Khan lifts the lid on lucrative new business venture and plans with Ghana president's son
Amir Khan lifts the lid on lucrative new business venture and plans with Ghana president's son
Amir Khan is out of the ring but not the spotlight, as the former British boxer has embarked on a new venture that takes him all the way to Ghana
Amir Khan's new project promises to be an interesting one
(Image: Getty Images )
Amir Khan has always dared to be great - now his taste for immortality takes him to Ghana.
Khan, 38, will be collaborating with Sharaf Mahama - the son of Ghanaian President John Mahama - to promote the audaciously named 'Battle of the Beasts' fight-card in the West African country. In his glittering career in the ring, the British-Pakistani always backed himself to the hilt, taking on the likes of Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, the concrete-fisted Terence Crawford and the dangerous Zab Judah among others.
His gambles did not always pay off. Canelo knocked him out in the sixth round of their 2016 bout, and he was forced to retire on his stool against Crawford not long after being caught with one of the most sickening low blows ever seen in boxing. After teasing a return from retirement and even a potential bout against Manny Pacquiao, Khan looks like he is settled on his next business venture - a relaunch of his boxing promotion company, AK Promotions.
The British Olympic silver medallist's company will work alongside Ghana's Legacy Promotions in a bid to bring the world's eyes to African boxing. The event, which takes place in Ghana on Friday, June 13, will be broadcast on DAZN and will feature a heavyweight clash between Andrew Tabiti of the USA and Ghana's very own Jacob Dickson.
Like Khan's career, the event is audacious, curious and exciting. Speaking exclusively to Wales Online, Khan said: "I know the president of Ghana's son (Mahama) really well. Sharaf got in touch with me, and he said, 'Look, I'd love you to do a boxing show here one day'.
"I thought about it, and then thought, 'Let's do it now'. I think it'll be nice. It's a good time now, where boxing is still baking all around the world. I decided 'Yeah, let's get a couple of fighters together.'
Article continues below
Content cannot be displayed without consent
"I've always wanted to get into promotion myself. Being an ex-fighter, I know exactly how the promotion game works when it comes down to fighters and weights. I have the contacts, and this is a good one now for me, because this will show me where the loyalty lies.
"I've made millions for promoters. I've made big deals happen with Turki Al-Sheikh, with Frank Warren, with Spencer Brown (Tyson Fury's manager). So this will show me if loyalty is going to be there with all these other promoters.
Amir Khan will be working with Sharaf Mahama for the event in Ghana
(Image: officialjdmahama/Instagram )
"I've worked with all the promoters from Golden Boy, Top Rank, Eddie (Hearn), Frank Warren, literally, everyone, you name them. This will help me go into the promotion game. I'm a big fan of the sport, and I want to make the best fight the best, just like Turki is doing now and over the last couple of years."
Khan's friend and colleague for the promotion, Mahama, is equally determined to bring the sport to Africa, stating: "This is the first of many. Our mission is to build a platform where African fighters shine globally and fans get the unforgettable nights they deserve. The world is watching, and Ghana is ready."
Despite one of the most historic matches in boxing history - the Rumble in the Jungle clash between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in 1974 - taking place in Kinshasha, DR Congo, boxing is yet to reach the same heights in Africa, as it has in the USA, Europe and, most recently, Saudi Arabia.
Ohara Davies, who announced his retirement after losing to Adam Azim in October, will be returning to the ring for the event
(Image: Getty Images )
Khan is early into the promotion game, but his vision for what boxing will look like is as ambitious as all of the other top promoters. He added: "The best need to fight the best. We're dipping our feet in the water this time with this show in Ghana, learning the trade slowly. Then we will start doing more and more and more shows.
Article continues below
"It's amazing to get DAZN on board as well. It's fun. I want to see what it's like to be the promoter and not be taking those punches in the ring. Normally, it's me taking the punches in the ring and the promoter sat there relaxing. I want to feel that now."
* AK Promotions in partnership with Legacy Rising Promotions presents Battle of the Beasts. Watch the action on Friday 13th June live on DAZN
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Evening Standard
4 hours ago
- Evening Standard
The Gold Season 2 on BBC One review: still a criminally good time
Even with only scattered historical references here and there, it's a romp. We return to the bowels of the Met Police, where DCS Brian Boyce (Hugh Bonneville) and his loyal deputies have been slogging away trying to chase down a trail that's gone very cold indeed. They narrowly missed nabbing convict John Palmer (Tom Cullen, suave as ever) at the end of season one; now, he's living the high life in Tenerife, swindling British tourists by selling them timeshare flats.
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Brit pop superstar thanks Netflix hit Adolescence for ‘changing her relationship with her son' in heartfelt letters
The four-parter has become Netflix's second most-watched English language TV series SHOW OF THANKS Brit pop superstar thanks Netflix hit Adolescence for 'changing her relationship with her son' in heartfelt letters Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SUPERSTAR Adele has written letters of thanks to the makers of Netflix hit series Adolescence. The British singer, 37, told the director of the award-winning show that she had made a point of watching it with son Angelo. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 Adele has written letters of thanks to the makers of Netflix hit series Adolescence Credit: Getty 3 The series stars Owen Cooper and Stephen Graham Credit: AP 3 Adele pictured with Angelo Credit: Alamy And she praised the hard- hitting drama for 'changing her relationship' with the 12-year old — who she shares with her ex-husband Simon Konecki, 51. Film director Steven Spielberg is also a fan. The series, starring Owen Cooper and Stephen Graham, tells the story of a 13-year-old schoolboy accused of murdering a girl in his class after being brainwashed by misogynistic online content. Director Philip Barantini said: 'I am getting messages, inundated on Instagram, from people from all over the world who can relate to this story or have really been affected by it. 'That, for me, has blown my mind a little bit.' Speaking in a masterclass with the Royal Television Society, he added: 'I had a text message from Steven Spielberg who has watched it twice and I got letters from Adele last week — handwritten letters from Adele.' He continued: 'I mean, just like saying that she had watched it with her son and it has changed their relationship. 'Things like that are just beyond anything I ever imagined from this little show that we made with our family. 'You see things like Baby Reindeer and all of those shows — they come out and then they just blow up. 'It's a huge thing and that is the power of Netflix. Evil Adolescence teens butchered our kids after knife taunts & love feuds online…it's an arms war & no one feels safe 'For some reason, because we made it in Yorkshire and it is set in a small town in England, I never thought in a million years it would be the number one show in India or Venezuela.' The four-parter has become Netflix's second most-watched English language TV series, behind only Addams Family spin-off Wednesday. Adolescence has amassed 141.2million views since its debut on the streamer on March 13. It has also triggered a national debate and led to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying schools should show it to children. Sir Keir said he watched the series with his 14-year-old daughter and son, 16. He added: 'As a dad, I have not found it easy viewing.'
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Callum Simpson credits late sister for inspiring comeback Ivan Zucco KO after being dropped EIGHT SECONDS into fight
'do it for her' 'do it for her' Callum Simpson credits late sister for inspiring comeback Ivan Zucco KO after being dropped EIGHT SECONDS into fight Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CALLUM SIMPSON called on inspiration from his late sister Lily Rae to come from behind and stop Ivan Zucco to win the European title. Simpson suffered the devastating news that his 19-year-old sister had tragically died last year in a quad bike accident on holiday in Greece. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Callum Simpson beat Ivan Zucco Credit: Getty 5 He scored three late knockdowns Credit: Getty But the Barnsley boxing hero - who headlined at the Oakwell Football Ground - continues to fight in Lily Rae's honour. And she would have watched on with pride as her big brother came back to stop Zucco in round ten after three knockdowns. Simpson, crowned the European super-middleweight champion, said: "Not once did I give up, those last few rounds I'll be honest I started thinking about my little sister Lily. "I'll be honest, I just thought I had to push for her and for everybody. "This time last year, Lily was sat up here cheering me on and she was there with me tonight when it got tough, when it got hard. "From round eight, I thought, 'I've got to dig deep, I've got to keep pushing, I've gotta do it for her. She was with me tonight." Simpson filled Barnsley's 23,000-seater - but he got off to a horror start after being floored by only the second punch Zucco threw. Simpson made it to his feet with little trouble but opted to try and make Zucco pay - and buzzed the travelling Italian himself before the bell sounded. The opener was a frenzy of wild shots with both men hurt and the following two rounds was much of the same. And again Simpson was down in round three after a huge left hand as the chaos continued. 'We never know' - Tyson Fury refuses to rule out comeback as Anthony Joshua nears new 'amazing' fight deal The former British and Commonwealth super-middleweight had to pick himself up and dust himself off to turn the fight around. And that is exactly what he did with constant pressure in the second half of the fight turning the tide. By round ten, Simpson was on the front foot and trapped Zucco in the corner - letting off a devastating triple uppercut. It dropped Zucco - who got to his feet - but again he was pinned in the corner and floored with two of the same shots. The underdog European once again made it to his feet but Simpson, smelling blood, jumped on Zucco and forced him to the floor with a barrage of shots. This time there was no coming back for Zucco - as Simpson turned the fight on its head with a comeback victory for the ages. 5 Smith was down twice himself Credit: Getty 5 He came back and credited the win to his late sister Credit: PA
