Khan: I love Britain and won’t let the rise in anti-muslim hatred drive me and my family away AMIR FEARS ‘BECAUSE I’M A MUSLIM AND BROWN-SKINNED PEOPLE PUT ME IN THE SAME GROUP AS THE TERRORISTS I STAND AGAINST’
AMIR KHAN is adamant he will not allow the hate-filled mob to drive him from his home in Britain.
The Bolton-born boxer won a silver medal for his country at the Athens Olympics in 2004.
He quickly became one of our most promising professional prospects and won his first world title aged 22.
He then flew the Union Flag overseas as he conquered America to unify the super-lightweight division.
Now in the twilight of his career, Khan, 32, trains in San Francisco with only three of his last 11 fights taking place in England.
He will be on the road again next month when he challenges formidable world champion Terence Crawford in New York.
Khan will then return to these shores and the home he shares with wife, Faryal Makhdoom, and their two young daughters.
But following last week’s terror attack in New Zealand, which killed 50 people inside two mosques, he admits there is a growing minority who consider him as much a “terrorist” as a prizefighter.
“There is a lot of hatred in a lot of people towards Muslims,” said Khan. “With the terrorist attacks and ISIS, there is always a handful of Muslims who make it difficult for the rest of us to live in this world.
“It is such a small number, who reflect badly on the good and innocent people like myself – this is a retaliation against a handful of people.
“But being Muslim creates more drama for me, because who wants to support a Muslim boxer when we live in a time when there is a lot of terrorism and racism in the world?
“But I represented Britain in the Olympics and I represent Britain when I fight. I have the British flag wrapped around me and I always call myself British. I stand up purposely against terrorism to show that I’m like everyone else.
“But there are only a few people who understand that. I try my best to make my point, but I am a Muslim and a brownskinned person.
“So, they will probably put me in the same group of people as the terrorists. It’s definitely changed in the last few years, and people do just look at what religion you are, or what colour of skin you have.
“You don’t even have to know the person, you just have to know what religion they are, and you put them in that category. I don’t feel afraid, I’m in a sport where anything can happen to me. But I feel afraid for my kids and my family, and I worry they will be in the wrong place or that something will happen when they’re out and about.
“I live in Britain and I’m always going to live there. My kids go to school in England and I want to work in the UK when I retire.
“I plan to run a business and some gyms to keep me busy – the UK has always been my home.” Khan has not reigned as world champion since 2012 and suffered a brutal knockout by Canelo Alvarez three years ago.
He had by then shelved his plan to retire by the age of 28 in a bid to win another world title.
His trainer, Virgil Hunter, was then struck down with illness, which saw Khan produce an unconvincing performance against Samuel Vargas in his absence last September.
But as he prepares to challenge three-weight world champion Crawford on April 20, Khan insists he can recreate past glories.
“The time I took out, and the time during which I had fewer fights, gave me the chance to evaluate where I am in my career and how long I can be in the game for,” he added.
“If I was fighting three times a year, every year, then maybe I’d have called it a day. But I’ve had fewer fights, so I’ve had a lot of rest and I’m still going strong.
“I always wanted to retire young and not have to make money all my life, but I love this sport to bits and it will be hard to walk away.
“I’m sure my team and my family will advise me when to leave – and I’ll know myself – but I have a lot left.
“When I do quit, I’d like to be remembered as someone who never turned a fight down and who fought the best guys in the world.
“I’ve won numerous world titles, won big fights for Britain, and brought big titles home.”
I represent Britain when I fight. I have the British flag wrapped around me