Amir Khan revealed Floyd Mayweather asked him to delay his retirement when the pair met in Dubai.
Khan recently lost to bitter rival Kell Brook in a Manchester grudge match before announcing his retirement from the sport last week after 17 years in the professional ranks. The 35-year-old bumped into boxing legend Mayweather in Dubai, who was set to compete in an exhibition fight with Don Moore before it was cancelled.
The British star has frustratingly admitted he will not let others "control" his retirement decision based on call-outs for potential comeback showdowns. “Floyd said to me ‘Look, we should get it on'," Khan said. "And I said ‘Brother, tomorrow I’m going to announce my retirement.’ And he goes ‘No, I don’t think you should’.
"Obviously, pro fighters say to you all your life ‘we should fight each other’ and they keep you on the side, on the bench and I’m like forget that man, I want to be in control of myself. When I call it a day, I call it a day. I don’t not call it a day because someone else is taking control like Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao say now we’ll fight you. Waiting around and waiting around for them so I thought nah man, I’ll do what’s best for me.”
Khan tried exceptionally hard to secure a shot at Mayweather throughout his professional career by frequently pining for the star on social media. In 2014, Khan was voted in a public poll on the undefeated star's account as the suitable next opponent, but the American elected to face Marcos Maidana.
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Khan had already defeated Maidana four years prior and was left increasingly frustrated in his pursuit of boxing's two biggest stars at the time. The British star has been offered a number of opportunities since losing to Brook including a contracted second meeting, and a domestic showdown with rising star Conor Benn.
However the former world champion believes he owes it to his family to retire to prevent himself from sustaining serious damage in the ring. “You’re always one punch away from getting hurt,” he continued. “I’ve got a beautiful family, beautiful kids, I’ve got enough money in the bank so let’s sit back and relax. Why continue when anything can happen?
"You’re only one punch away from getting hurt, knocked out or killed. While I’ve got the chips on my side, I’m happy to walk away and call it a day. You’re always one punch away from getting hurt, that’s something I was always scared of, I wouldn’t be there for the kids. There’s no point making all this money and you don’t enjoy it.”
