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If I told you everything you would start crying: Amir Khan on why he's left his family

If I told you everything you would start crying: Amir Khan on why he's left his family

The boxer no longer has his father, uncle and best friend on his management team
24 Mar, 2017

If a highly scrutinised family feud wasn't enough, British-Pakistani boxer Amir Khan has also had to contend with professional abandonment as his team, which consisted of father Shah Khan, uncle Taz Khan and best friend Saj Mohamed, left him after his big loss against Mexican boxer Canelo in May.

In an interview on Boxing News, Amir confirmed, "Taz is no longer working, Saj is no longer working. Saj was my best friend and he left. It wasn’t a nice way they left. I had the final say. I said, ‘Look guys, if you’re not going to work, I don’t want to be paying you for doing nothing’.

“They probably thought: ‘this is our best chance to cash out, Amir is done with his career and we’re probably going to ask for redundancy and get out’. And that’s what they all did. They all wanted a big cheque and they left.”

Disagreements over finances appear to be the chief cause of their split.

“Something funny happened to me actually,” he shared. “I got a bill for a server for like eight grand. I thought, ‘eight grand? What’s that for?’ I emailed the guy back asking what the bill was for.

“He said, ‘oh that’s for the server in your office’. I thought to myself, ‘I’m a fighter – I don’t need an office’. Why would I need an office with a server? I’m a fighter.

“I’m the only person going in the ring but I’m paying server costs and God knows what else for an office that I don’t even need. My office is the gym. The server is for all old emails going back years – what do I need those for? I don’t even look at my emails now!

“When you’re making millions, sometimes people forget about the little costs but they add up, man."

After his May defeat, Amir wanted to take back control over his finances, which ultimately resulted in Taz and Saj's departure.

“I lost in May but by October/November it had all changed,” he explains.

“Because I said I wanted to take full control of everything, my old team said, ‘there you go’ and walked away.

“I said to Saj, ‘I want to keep you on, I’ll still pay you and I’ll look after you and even after my career I want you to run and manage everything’. He turned around and said ‘no’. He thought ‘Amir is done now’.

“When he said that it was a big slap [on] my face because I was always there for him. I thought when it was my turn and I needed him there for me… The people who should’ve been there for me, weren’t.

“I should have got on to my things a few years ago when I was 21 or 22 and made sure everything was right. I didn’t want to ever think about that. I just assumed it would be going the right way.

“I had property advisers who used to rip me off, I had accountants who ripped me off. I changed everything.

“With what I’ve gone through if I told you everything you would start crying. When money starts coming in a lot of people change. When it stops you see their true colours. And when I took a loss and everyone thought I was done, I saw everyone’s true colours. That is why I had to make these big changes.”

But Amir thinks his career is far from done. With talks about a £32m superfight with Manny Pacquaio ongoing, he thinks his "time to shine" is coming up.

“After the Canelo fight my old team thought, ‘he’s had his big fight, he’s done now’. So this is the chance for me now to prove everyone wrong.

“I’m not done. I’ve just turned 30, I’ve still got some good years left in me. It could be my time to shine.”

“I’m happy,” he insists. “It has matured me a lot – I saw white hair on me for the first time in my life on my beard. That’s all the bills and all the problems."

Comments

Thoroughthinker Mar 24, 2017 12:04pm
Perhaps, his better half is not really the women that is always behind a man's rise. He should consult some truthfinder to explore and find the real cause of his fall.
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asad Mar 24, 2017 12:05pm
unfortunate boss and subordinate relation even in close ties.
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ABE Mar 24, 2017 01:12pm
Do we care? NOT!
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Inam ali essex Mar 24, 2017 02:45pm
Nice article, unfortunately everything Amir has said is all too common and part of life, it is said that nothing belongs to a man, not his wife, his children, nor his wealth. Best time to test your so called family/friend is during hard times.
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mandy Mar 24, 2017 02:48pm
His downfall started since he challenged Vijendar Singh...
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Iqbal Mar 24, 2017 03:00pm
A typical English/Pak mix outpouring. I really enjoyed it. Keep laughing Amir.
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Ali S Mar 24, 2017 03:30pm
Always keep family and business separate if you earned it on your own - especially if you have a Punjabi family.
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M. Emad Mar 24, 2017 03:36pm
British-Pakistani boxing star Amir Khan left his Family for Wife !
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Simba Mar 24, 2017 04:19pm
@M. Emad you are right. If only he had found the right wife, everything else would have been right
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ThOught Mar 24, 2017 04:31pm
@mandy who's that ?
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ThOught Mar 24, 2017 04:33pm
Amir still is the best of the bests just carry on this is the real fight of life and you are the winner since you win the reality of relations
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Raj Mar 24, 2017 04:33pm
True in good times people are around and in bad times none likes you. That's life.
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Nasir-London Mar 24, 2017 04:38pm
I have known brothers, best friends and close relatives as fair-weather companions deserting in bad times, but a father, as Amir puts it, is unbelievable . Keep your spirits up Amir, it is not the end of the world. I have had this experience too with my real brother but now I have found real friends in my children and my wife, and one nephew out of many, they stood by me through thick and thin.
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Inam ali essex Mar 24, 2017 05:09pm
Amir Khan, if you are looking for good honest people to work with you. i'm here to support you.:)
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@ABD Mar 24, 2017 05:54pm
Nice move ,blame everyone for your own problems.
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Zak Mar 24, 2017 06:22pm
Funny how those parasites and even family members suddenly think, money is everything. They forget, in the end, all gets left behind and no there to say a prayer either. Shame on those who betrayed their own son, nephew, best friend.
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Khan Mar 24, 2017 06:22pm
@ABE you cared enough to read the article and replied to it .. so yes you do care
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Zak Mar 24, 2017 06:22pm
Never involve family and friends in business. It's a golden rule to remember.
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Rao Mar 24, 2017 06:31pm
Don't worry - give it a dime. Don't quit keep on and trust in God.
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Chad Pillai Mar 24, 2017 06:44pm
I thought he said his last fight in America was with Canelo. Now that Trump is the president I hope he keeps his word and not fight in America.
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Nasir-London Mar 24, 2017 07:07pm
@@ABD: We are not all angels, ABD, We all are prone to making mistakes in life that may cause problem. Some problems may be are self created but problems created by others through greed are more painfull one could do without. Self created problems can be overcome with self help but the others have no solution because they will keep coming back for more.
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Nasir-London Mar 24, 2017 07:09pm
@Inam ali essex: inam Ali, are you volunteering withot pay or compensation of some sort?
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Peacetime Mar 24, 2017 07:36pm
@Nasir-London His father may not have left him purely for financial reasons, the actual cause seems the intra- family conflict, arguments and inevitable differences and the resulting acrimony. His parents probably feel equally hurt by a son who was their pride till his departure. It is very sorry state and no doubt he has proven to the world his supper boxing qualities he has unfortunately not been able to keep a balance between his natural bond with his family and his marital obligations. I hope this situation does not go on to erode and weaken him and that he can return to his formal glory.
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SiD Mar 24, 2017 07:37pm
Your best wishes with you CHAMP! you go fight.. fight these corrupt ppl too.. don't give them a second chance. they DONT deserve it
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sukhera Mar 24, 2017 08:51pm
When I got poor grades at school, I always told my dad, dad don't worry, I will do lot better in the next test. Well it did not happen. The problem is You can't use this excuse all the time over and over again. Work hard because who train better always get better results. Lot of people depend on you and have high hopes.
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Tasawar Mar 24, 2017 09:08pm
I wish you the best of luck . What goes around comes around . Came to see you fight in Washington DC and even the black couple said Amir won . But dc is a raciest city and that's why they took away your win ......
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Tasawar Mar 24, 2017 09:10pm
I think you two make an awesome couple and Faryal Makhdoom will stand by you .
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LAHORI KID Mar 24, 2017 09:43pm
That is the story of almost every athlete and musician, they get ripped off by their own.
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John Mar 24, 2017 09:45pm
It's called cost of success. Some recover from it soon and others take a long time to figure it out.
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prefer Honesty Mar 24, 2017 10:29pm
He is a boxer. He should get fit again and box.
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a Mar 24, 2017 10:46pm
History is replete with cases where fathers/siblings/moms/ family members have misused their famous wards earnings. Steffi Graf, Sánchez Vicario, and many others will vouch for that. In fact Sánchez Vicario recently told media that she realised how she was fleeced by her dad and brothers only after she got bank and eviction notices. She had to declare insolvency and sell the only big asset in her own name, a ranch. Obviously, she hasn't spoken to her family for almost a decade and is happily living as a stay at home mom with her husband. She also said they are still struggling with finances as husband is not very well off after losing a lot in construction business. This for a woman who was once world number 2 and whose career earning on the WTA tour topped 100 million dollars !
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SM Mar 25, 2017 01:03am
He always crave more public attention to live in limelight. He should keep his issues with himself and family rather than stirring up people's curiosity. I am sick of these publicity stunts
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ZANE Mar 25, 2017 01:30am
YOU ARE NOT DONE BRO. There are thousands of us who still believe in you champ.
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Sofia Miraj Mar 25, 2017 03:10am
Athletes are like everyone else they think of the sport and expect their business transactions to be taken care by loyal friends and family. Truth hurts in depletion of funds and Amir must be congratulated he stood up to tyrant parents who don't often have your interest!
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Talha Mar 25, 2017 05:18am
@ABE You should not have read the article if you don't care! AK is just one solid fight away to turn things in his favor again.
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azam khan Mar 25, 2017 06:40am
Amir Khan we, millions of fans are behind you and behind every move of yours. You are a kind man and care for humanity.
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yasir Mar 25, 2017 09:04am
Amir Khan a hero, if you are looking for good honest people to work with you. i'm here to support you.
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yasir Mar 25, 2017 09:06am
Amir Khan a hero, we are with u. if you are looking for good honest people to work with you. i'm here to support you.
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Kanyou Mar 25, 2017 09:58am
Keep all those away who destroy your positivity . Sports is all about spirit and positivity. You cannot win if your mind is not fresh and happy. Don't let anyone destroy your peace. Train hard and strive for success. You have to draw the terms. And decide who stays and who leaves. Anyone who truly loves you will stay unconditionally. Those who set conditions should be asked to leave. I wish you all the best! Fight and don't look back.
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@ABD Mar 25, 2017 10:45am
@Nasir-London About his team and associates,they are professionals and they have family to feed too,so you should not complaint if they moved on.About Amir, he is not some saint(LOL).He's got fame and everything,why do you think everyone leaving him,even family,there is some thing wrong with this guy and he is trying to play sympathy game here.Always remember no one is gonna solve your problem, we are on our own.
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Muhammad HANIF Mar 25, 2017 11:11pm
Nice boxing player
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ArIf Mar 26, 2017 01:54am
Parents can't be your enemy. They raised you. Don't make mistakes that you would regret in future
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Shuaib Mar 26, 2017 10:35am
Dude, without your dad's help you would be driving a cab or running a Desi grocery store. You are what you are thanks to your dad.
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