sport news Amir Khan details how he knew his boxing career was finished before Kell ... trends now
Amir Khan has revealed he knew his boxing career was over as his body broke down in the build-up to his recent defeat by Kell Brook.
'I tore my rotator cuff, my tendon split in half in my right arm, it's still sore now and I can't lift it up much,' the 35-year-old said on Monday, three days after announcing his retirement.
'But I didn't want to tell people about that because I didn't want people to say "Amir is making excuses".
'My knees were hurting in training camp. I was still pushing myself hard and then that's when it hit me: 'Do you know what? I don't have it left in me... I'm not as good as I used to be. So I had to be honest with myself and call it a day.'
But not before he was stopped in the sixth round of their long-awaited grudge match. That brutal battle in February turned out to be the final bow of a 17-year career.
'I couldn't let anyone down,' Khan said. So he decided: 'I'm going to go ahead with it.' But deep down in my mind, I wasn't mentally prepared… I'd trained hard, but I didn't have it in me. I was already done as a fighter. That's when it hit me.'
Khan is glad he fought Brook regardless. In fact, the only regret of his brilliant career – which included world titles and an Olympic silver medal – was that they didn't meet earlier.
'Everyone would have hated me for not taking that fight. No regrets at all,' he said.
'Maybe it might have been a different story if it had been a couple of years earlier.'
The 35-year-old's immediate focus now is on investments such as property. He will remain in boxing as a promoter – he claims to have just signed a 'big deal' in New York and has shows in the UK lined up. 'So I'll have my foot in the door but not in the ring,' he said.
Khan ruled out future exhibition bouts. Even the thought of training is too much for now.
'With these injuries I'm getting, If I was asked to get in a ring I would be
