The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
AMIR KHAN MY LIFE IN TRAVEL
Vegas was the ideal location for the boxer before he became a family man. Now he prefers to play it safe on holiday in Dubai
I LIVE OUT OF A SUITCASE and split my time between my homes in San Francisco, New York and Bolton. But the life I live is more than just boxing at glamorous venues around the globe like Las Vegas. I’m off to Indonesia tonight. I do a lot of charity work in Africa, Asia and the Middle East through my Amir Khan Foundation, building schools and medical centres. I usually travel long-haul three times a month.
IT TAKES ME EXACTLY THREE MINUTES TO PACK my bag and that’s including getting the suitcase and carry-on out, putting the essentials in and then I’m done. I know exactly what I need and I’m always on the ball – just like in the ring. I always make sure I’ve got my noise-cancelling earphones and a destination-specific mobile phone and SIM card.
DUBAI IS NOW THE PERFECT HOLIDAY DESTINATION for me. I was there just a few months ago with my wife and two daughters. I know a lot of people travel there for the party scene, but it’s actually a very safe family destination. There are nice restaurants and nice hotels. My wife and kids can walk out on the streets at night time and they’ll be OK. That gives me peace of mind.
WASHINGTON DC IS THE MOST UNUSUAL PLACE I fought, not in the middle of some jungle or off-thebeaten-track place. It’s a nice place to visit if you’re a tourist because there are so many sights, but the atmosphere in the Convention Centre and the people around the ring seemed very, very shady. It was a split decision loss, but I felt I really should have won it. It was a weird vibe.
BEFORE CHILDREN, VEGAS WAS PERFECT FOR ME – along with my friends. I’ve been dozens of times and I kind of find it boring now. I experienced it all when I was younger – the crazy clubs, the gambling with the chips being thrown on the table and the pool parties. I look back on it now and don’t see the attraction, but at least I know I’ve done it and closed the door.
I WAS ONCE DENIED ENTRY TO THE STATES back in September 2014. I was due to be ringside for a Floyd Mayweather fight, but a week after my visa had been approved, I was then told it had been declined and I wasn’t allowed to board the plane at Manchester. I’d visited Pakistan several times recently to visit my family and oversee the school I was building. Thankfully it got sorted, and I haven’t had any problems since.
NEW YORK CITY HAS VERY SPECIAL MEMORIES for me. It’s where Faryal and I were married in 2013 at the Waldorf Astoria hotel and this April it’s where my next big fight is going to be at Madison Square Gardens against Terence Crawford.
I REALLY SPLASHED OUT ON MY HONEYMOON six years ago. We went to Langkawi in Malaysia, Singapore and Dubai. We started in Langkawi. We were due to stay for four days but we moved on after one because we were told there could be snakes at night, and I’m not a fan. We were in a forested area and it was just too quiet and spooky for me. I know it’s meant to be the perfect honeymoon destination, but I was dying. I was younger at the time and a little bit crazy. Because it was our honeymoon, I couldn’t show the crazy side of me.
SINGAPORE WAS MY FAVOURITE STOP on my honeymoon. I was sick of the beach and really looking forward to being in the thick of a city with nice restaurants and culture. We loved wandering through the markets and meeting the people.
GAMBIA IS THE MOST UNUSUAL PLACE I’ve been recognised. I was there doing charity work, opening a new orphanage I’d built. Kids were wanting to spar and doing boxing
WATCH
Looking well turned out is important to me so I always wear a watch from my collection including my Hublot King Power. I feel naked without it! After every big fight, I treat myself to a new one.
From £15,950; chronext.co.uk moves on me. I thought it was crazy I was recognised.
I WASN’T EXPECTING TO LIKE AUSTRALIA as much as I did. I was over there in 2017, doing I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here. I knew nothing about where I was going, apart from it was an exceptionally long flight to get there. The creepy tasks aside, I really liked the weather, the people and the community spirit. It’s so chilled and laid back. I would love to explore Oz more and see Sydney and Melbourne.
I experienced it all when I was younger – the clubs, the gambling and the pool parties
I LIKE PLACES WITH A LITTLE BIT OF AN EDGE to them, like Colombia, Venezuela and Argentina. I should have been heading to Venezuela last week for a private event, but they cancelled. I was taking a sizeable enough entourage to make sure my team and I were OK. Amir Khan is launching the Ring the Changes initiative with online financial trading broker ThinkMarkets (thinkmarkets.com) to support underprivileged young people across the UK through fundraising, mentorship, education and employment opportunities.