I’M NOT A QUITTER
BOXING AMIR BATTERED IN BIG APPLE Khan insists low blow forced his trainer to pull the plug
IN the city that never sleeps, the lights have gone out for Amir Khan.
It’s been one heck of a ride for Khan since his US debut nine years ago but his controversial TKO by Terence Crawford will be his 11th and last big fight in America.
Khan had always been respected Stateside for being a fearless warrior. He was the guy who survived a pounding by Marcos Maidana to win and took the fight to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez before his brutal KO.
Not any more. Much of that respect vanished the second trainer Virgil Hunter told referee David Fields he could not continue against Crawford because of a low blow.
Crawford’s trainer Brian McIntyre jumped into the ring, laughing at Khan, while the 14,000 Madison Square Garden crowd booed him.
It did not matter that Khan had previously shown enough guts to win a Purple Heart, they suspected he quit to save BY DAVID ANDERSON himself from an even bigger beating.
Crawford challenged Khan in the post-fight press conference, asking him: “Did you quit? You got hit in the leg.”
Khan, said to have been in tears in the dressing room, claimed Hunter pulled him out and that he is no quitter.
“Virgil did it,” said Khan, who claimed he peed blood because of the low blow. “I was in the corner and Virgil asked me how I was feeling. I could feel it in my stomach. I was caught with some good shots but I didn’t recover from that shot.
“I would never quit. I’m one of those fighters who would rather be knocked out.”
Field did not penalise Crawford for the low blow and told Khan’s corner he was entitled to five minutes to recover. Yet he and Hunter, who claimed the Bolton fighter was “incapacitated”, did not request a break and this flat ending left a bad taste in the mouth.
Khan claims he could still fight in the US again against Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia or Manny Pacquiao.
He said: “I don’t want to end my career like that. I’m 32 and have a lot more in me. It’s not my last fight, not at all. I will always have opportunities to fight for world titles.”
That sounds highly fanciful and which promoter and TV network in the US would want him now they think he’s a quitter? His only obvious big fight is Kell Brook, who was ringside, back in Britain.
Unbeaten WBO welterweight champ Crawford was too slick and quick for Khan and alternated at will between his body and head.
Some of the American’s body shots were low and at the start of the sixth, he delivered the left hook into Khan’s groin that ended the fight.
Three-weight world champ Crawford said: “I thought he was looking for a way out. “He and Virgil were having a conversation.
“Amir just kept shaking his head and I was, ‘Aah nah, he’s going to quit’. I was right, that’s what happened.”
That second low blow will hurt Khan’s pride the most.
I could feel it in my stomach. I didn’t recover from that shot AMIR KHAN EXPLAINS WHY HIS FIGHT ENDED EARLY