'IT'S TIME'
Amir Khan retires aged 35 after Kell Brook loss following incredible Olympic silver medal and unified world title holder
AMIR KHAN has announced his retirement from boxing aged 35.
The British boxing legend, who won Olympic silver as a 17-year-old, confirmed the news on Twitter.
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Khan posted: "It’s time to hang up my gloves. I feel blessed to have had such an amazing career that has spanned over 27 years.
"I want to say a heartfelt thanks and to the incredible teams I have worked with and to my family, friends and fans for the love and support they have shown me."
Khan accompanied the post with pictures from his greatest nights in the ring.
That included wins over Mexican icon Marco Antonio Barrera, Argentine Marcos Maidana and American Devon Alexander.
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Khan hangs up his gloves following one of the most celebrated careers in the modern era.
He became a household name before even turning professional due to his heroics at the 2004 Athens Games.
Having been Team GB's ONLY boxing representative, he shot to stardom and soon turned professional.
Despite a shock loss to Breidis Prescott in 2008, Khan stormed to his first world title a year later after just 21 fights.
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He beat Andreas Kotelnik at the age of just 22 and added unified belts only two years later.
Beloved for his fast hands and equally exciting style, Khan took on some of the biggest names in world boxing.
Wins over Paulie Malignaggi, Zab Judah and Luis Collazo also followed in his career.
Despite criticism over his chin, Khan either got back up to win or was knocked out by the very best.
That included two-division champion Danny Garcia as well as current pound-for-pound stars Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford.
But Khan's most bitter defeat would have been his final, against long-time rival Kell Brook.
The fight was almost two decades in the making and had several convinced it would never happen.
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But at last, while both past the peak of their powers, a deal was finally agreed.
Unfortunately for Khan, it ended in a convincing sixth-round stoppage loss in February.
It gave Brook the perfect way to go out on top, as his retirement was announced this month.
But Khan, plagued by the bitter defeat, contemplated either a rematch or a rebuilding job.
A shoulder injury sustained before the loss to Brook also gave the Olympian reason to consider a return.
Khan's BBC reality TV show gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at what could be his final fight and the subsequent fall-back.
And it was evident his wife Faryal Makhdoom, who the boxer has three kids with, wanted nothing more than her husband to retire.
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The show ended with Khan refusing to rule out a comeback and Faryal admitting the final call will be his.
But thankfully, the fighter who acted as a role model to so many British-Asians, has decided enough is enough.
Khan can now look forward to quality time with daughters Lamaisah, Alayna and son Muhammad Zaviya, without spending weeks away while training.
He is also president of the WBC Middle East, helping grow the sport in that region.
Closer to home, Khan has a boxing academy in his birthplace of Bolton while also having his own charity foundation.
The Amir Khan Foundation helps disadvantaged children around the world and has operations in Pakistan, USA and Canada.
After being brutally knocked out by Canelo in 2016, Khan a year later featured on I'm a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!
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There he became an instant hit and helped with the launch of his own show, Meet the Khans: Big in Bolton.
A third season is already on the way and will be the first with Khan officially retired from the sport he gave so much of his life to.
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