Is Amir Khan the Most Hated Boxer In The UK?

OptimusPrime,

Correction: Prince Naseem Hamed is NOT a Yeminite nor are his parents. It is very common that many Pakistanis/Asians migrate to arab countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait etc) and from there on migrate to the West. Yemen is located in the MiddleEast and not Africa so it remains unclear how one can trace ones roots back to Africa. Simple Geography. Also Naseem is very commonly used Asian name used both for girls and boys. Particularily Arab it is not. Also why is it that Prince Naseem Hamed can not speak any Arab, neither his family, but can speak urdu/punjabi? Is that an Arab language too? A dialect perhaps? Of course not. Why does he not have Arab friends? Why is he and his family mainly surrounded by Asians? Arabs too har proud of their heritage and tend to mingle among other Arabs simple because like Asians and well anybody, the cultural gap is small or none. It is not like there are not Arab communities in England. Sheffield is not exactly known for its Arab community though and that is where he grew up. The man is Asian and I don’t know why he won’t just be proud of it. It is not like Arab is superior to Asian or such.

I’ve just realised this whole thread is a big waste of time. Should have had something better to do, hey, ah well..

Race does not come into it. Khan should never have been put on PPV at such an early stage of his career. He has fought nobody of any statue and before you all jump up and and scream MAB. that fight should have been a no contest period!! Khan is a marmite fighter who has ducked all major opponents. and is doing so by fighting his next opponent saying there is noone in his current weight class worth fighting hahahaha. Yes i am a khan hatter and its not race related its the fact He bigs himself up all the time but dont back it up with worthy opponents. For all you racists lets leave race out of boxing and look at facts.

LETS FACE IT, IT MAINLY THE WHITE THAT DONT BACK HIM, HE DONE BRITIAN PROUD IN THE OLYMPICS AND NOW HES TURNED PROFFESIONAL, DA ONLY REASON THAT I CAN THINK OF IS BECAUSE HE IS A MUSLIM. HE WILL PROVE ALL DA PEOPLE WHO HATE ON HIM WRONG, ONE MORE THING IVE BEEN TO QUITE A FEW OF HIS FIGHTS AND I CAN NOT SEE ONE SEAT EMPTY S0 HE CANT BE THE MOST HATED PEROSN IN UK BOXING, AND ALL RACE COLOURS SUPPOUT HIM ITS ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO DONT GOWATCH HIM AND DONT SUPPORT HIM CRTICISE HIM ON BLOGS AND ARTICLES, THERE NOT PROPER BOXING FANS

Agreed, you add this to the reasons why he’s disliked… having celebrity status and PPV television deals without yet earning it. This is another reason why I dislike him as well.

amir khan is a good fighter hes only had one loss n everones hatein on him its not fair

Khan is disliked for the following reasons-

1 Khans mouth
2 Khans arrogance
3 Khans attitude
4 Frank Warren
5 Always fighting bums
6 Khans chin

But racism in sport is prominent here. Bruno had to become a clown before he had white acceptance. Eubank only became liked after he was winding down. + Lennox, well he never had the following of the limited Hatton, and look at his pedigree! For some, racism is undoubtedly a factor in their hatred of Khan, but not me. I am happy to see so many young british asian boys in the gym trying to follow their idol Amir Khan. I just wish he deserved it more, thats all. But to deny racsim in sport, after the treatment dished out to Nazeem Hamed, Bruno, Lennox, Eubanks, Linford and the rest is an insult and a lie. I have heard white people when watching the fights of Khan referring to him as an ‘effin p**i” so there is little point denying it. Im yet to see people praying for Hatton’s opponent to win, despite him cheating of Collazo, favourable ref against Lozcano (like Khan against Barrera when Ricky was out of it) and his fouling against Kostya Tszyu. When it comes to black and asian fighters there is a different rulebook. However, that still doesnt mean Khan doesnt deserve SOME of the criticism he deserves. But the level is disproportionate.

I dont like Khan because I think he is Asian. I dont like him because he is limited, unproved and overhyped with a bad chin. However, it goes without saying he has profited simply for being asian! Make no bones about it, if he was black or white, or even just an asian non-muslim (Sikh Hindu), he would not get this attention. In the years of terrorism and the rest of it, they want an asian muslim poster boy, that is the only reason for his high profile, make no bones about it.

I am no racist, but it bothers me that many fighers, both black and white, who have equally distinguished and better records, simply dont get recognition. Carl Froch never got blown out within a minute of the first round, and yet he cant even secure a tv deal, despite being WBC champion and fight of the year with Jean Pascal! Khan is overrated, and has no chin. He does not deserve his position, but apparently I am a racsist for holding that view.

Muzza – If I misread your comment 13, I apologise. I’m not sure that’s the case though, or indeed that we’re on the same wavelength. We might have our wires crossed so I’ll try and rephrase it.

By saying “it is the people who play ‘the PC card’ who are likely to be racists themselves”, I meant that these people will say something racist and then when another person points this out, they’ll say something like “this country is so PC, you can’t say anything anymore”. In reality, it just the person who made the racist comment trying to disguise the fact they said it/not being able to accept what they said was racist.
I didn’t mean ‘The PC Brigade’ – the people who wish to change stuff like nursery rhymes. They’re not racist, just incredibly stupid and rather irritating.

I agree about the media. They are a disgrace and a law unto themselves. Look at the way they treated Hillsborough at the time. Unforgivable.

Role model?????
So were teaching kids to drive at speeds of over 140 mph on motorways?
Or to jump redlights and run over pedestrians?
Or how about the bling mentality after visiting the devastated pakistan during the earthquakes?
I wonder if he knows where those diomonds came from on his rolex?
I applaud his charity work but I will not be supporting him just because he was born on the same lump of rock as me.
I would much rather support a hard working pro like prescott, who has had to fight for everything in his life.

Anyway Amir Khan is a Lad from Bolton who fought and won a silver medal for Great Britain at the age of only 17 years old. Hes British End of story. The Dickheads who slag him off on youtube are a disgrace and if they are British they should hang their worthless heads in shame. He (Khan) is a role model for the the decent youth of Great Britain and I hope to see him gain success more than he can imagine. The whole of the uk Boxing comuntity should get behind him and back him! I for one know her has floors but I wish him all the luck in the world.

James hughes what you forget is the same non apparent RACISTS can draw a comparisson with a black board and someones skin colour!? WHF! they can also change the words in Triditional English nursery rhymes as (barr barr black sheep) to (barr barr rainbow sheep) who the fuck is so toltally obsesed by the colour of someones skin they feel they should go to these stupid lenghts to defend people they do not represent. Alot of Blacks Asians and muslims in the uk are suffering through this misrepresentation! I for one do not beleave the crap the papers say about muslim this and muslim that. Why is it I can get on with a Muslim guy in everyday life with no problem and have them as my everyday mates, yet the media tell me Muslims are this and that and paint them on a whole in a bad light. Nazi Germany did the same thing with the Jews. Anyway James as for your Boxing comments I think your dead on the money and enjoyed your write up.

Ive been very open about my dislike of Khan and slated him regardless of what reactions i get. Its not because of his race, its not because i think he’s a crap fighter and its not because he was KO’d.

Khan has been built up into this “superstar” without ever proving himself or backing up his mouth. No he hasnt been a pro for long really and probably needs more time to develop his skills. But he has lapped up all the attention rather than focusing on boxing.

His being thrown into the limelight wasnt his fault, Warren saw an opportunity to make money and made Khan an impossible to decline offer. I think Khan should have stayed in the Olympic squad and went for a gold, he was to young to go pro and another 4 years of Commonwealth level and Olympic boxing would have done him the world of good. To be fair to Warren, he hasnt pushed Khan into big fights to soon, he has built him up gradually, picking opponents based on the previous performance.

Where it has all gone wrong for Khan, in my eyes, is the hype. After every fight, including the defeat, he has said he will be a world champ and fight for a title next fight, which he never did. He bums himself up and Warren knocks him down with another lame fight. His backroom hanger on types are to blame also, they whisper the old “you’re the best” and “you’re a champ” crap which, heard enough, he believes. Just watch him swagger into a press conference, or even to the local shop, all blinged up with several “staff” around him as though he is royalty, he actually lives for the adoration.

I dont doubt he is a decent guy, ive never met him so cant comment, but i can see it in his demeaner around the journos that he thinks he’s “the man”, a big time fighter, and given that the British media would film him taking a dump, he has plenty opportunity to swagger for them.

I thought the KO to Prescott was going to be the best thing that could have happened to him, dropping him back to earth, but it didnt, he came back after fighting a lower classed Fagan with the same attitude, he then went on to show very little respect for Barrera. Barrera has accomplished more in his long and distinguished career than Khan could ever dream of and has fought some of the best fighters of the last decade, yet Khan believed that he was going to beat him and then have him as his biggest fan!!! Just the kind of crap that gets him slated, and deservingly so.

Now he has a fight lined up for a title, but not at his chosen weight, and why? Because he hasnt the guts to demand he goes up against Marquez or Valero, he doesnt actually have guts to defend his right to be a mandatory challenger for the Lightweight titles against Katsidis or Diaz (either of them). And i say demand because Warren is there to represent Khan, not be his boss, if Khan wanted the big fights and Warren wasnt willing to make them, then there are plenty other managers out there to call on.

Instead he continues along the Audley Harrison career path, talk about titles but fight the easy options.

Yes but you cannot completely shun the notion of racism playing its part in people disliking Khan.

Im not playing the race card and trying to upset anyone ,im white and i like Khan but as pointed out by Mr X you only need to see the comments on his youtube videos to see the vile, racist comments.

All im saying is that there is a small but worrying minority of people who simply hate Khan for his asian background/religion.There are no two ways about it.

Most of the people who dislike Khan do so because they find him brash and cocky and thats fair enough but surely you must have encountered the racist comments which plague youtube and some boxing forums to lesser degrees.

Im sure no one here is narrow minded as those people and like/dislike Khan for your own reasons.

i like amir khan

Dont get me started on Audley Harrison! I dont like him for his Haircuts alone.

Audley Harrison anyone?

You missed out the key fact of racism in your article. Why tip toe around it?

Yeah Rocky so all the people in the uk that dont like Khan are Racist are they?? you ignorant boy! Or just some of them? Or just most of em?? make your silly little mind up! I suppose we all hated Hamed also because he was an arab and a muslim! Keep pulling the Race card. If someone says they dont like Khan they dont like him and its up to them. People like you coming on here branding the people of the uk racist in an off hand manner should take a look at yourselves. The uk protects the right of every citizen to practice their faith and actually defends their right to do so. This is more than can be said for the majority of islamic states. So Rocky before you open your ignorant mouth in future and let your belly rumble about how RACIST the uk is cast your mind offshore and to the middle east.

And to benjamin id like to say that i dont think his book had anything to do with it. Mike Tyson was sent to prison for Rape. Now we dont know whether he really did it or not but that hasnt stopped people saying that Tyson is one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.

Also Amir Khan obviously has white supporters no doubt about it. No one is saying that everyone is racist if they dont like khan. But the point is that because he is brown skinned the majority of the nation feel as if they cannnot relate to him because of that. Now true boxing fans like boxers regardless of their race its the part time boxing fans who see a ”paki” instead of a british boxer who actually took home a silver medal for BRITAIN in the olympics

well i hate all boxers from the uk there either overrated like a certain someone who has retired,or overhyped for doing absoulutly no one!!

One thing you have to remeber about Amir Kan is his past. In his own book he admitted there was an incident in which he and 2 over friends were arrested and charged with assault on females. You have also got to take into account the whole sage about him speeding and running into some guy. i think the above has somewhat tarnished the publics view of khan.
furthermore i believe the british public just dont lik to see winners. boxers like frank bruno who are average at best get the publics approval for valiant efforts in defeat, while Lennox lewis arguably one of the best heavyweights of all time is shunned. a similiar scenario with eubank. prior to his losses later in his career he was despisd and labelled arrogant. perhaps if amir khan was to lose his title shot but do so by losing bravely i believe the public would warm to him more.

I also like the way you point out the Americans call each other Americans and not put people into racial groups all the time. Ive long held the view if your British your British. I dont like the way we refer to people whos heritage oridginates from the indian sub continant as (asians) or British asians. You dont call a white person who was born in England to Scottish parents Scotish so why do this with Asians?. Its segregates people and racial groups.

BTW: Did anyone see the post fight interview with barrera?

Did anyone listen to what barrera was saying?

1. The ref should have stopped the fight in the first round

2. He was blinded in one eye

3. Khans punches were not hurting him

A very interesting article. The racist abuse also stems from the nature of the sport. Thugs are always happy to beat up “pakis” so obviously boxing would naturally be of interest to them. To see a “paki” do well in the sport is a spanner in the works for these very people.
But we have to look at things in context, British people are very jealous anyway, they cant stand the fact of anyone doing well, even its one’s own relative. I am Asian myself and surprisingly I have heard other Asians making racist comments also. For example one joke that is always going around, refering to the Prescott fight that he went in a British boxer and came out a paki.
Then there’s the religion issue, we all know how the media is portraying Islam and Muslims, and Amir Khan being Muslim also adds to the hate. People still remember how Prince Naseem used to use his beilef as a marketing tool, and then when he lost to the same Barrera that Amir Khan fought just over a month ago, he disappeared. And the media latched on to this aspect, which has given further propulsion to the same racist people.
Just as a note, one thing I really liked about the American commentators as i clearly remember in the Barrera vs Hamed fight, is that they would refer to Naseem Hamed as an Englishman, and when the cameras focused on Lennox Lewis they said here’s one Englishman supporting another, over there every American citizen is called an American wherever they are from.

If you go to see one of his fights live, you will witness thousands of people of different races who like Amir.
He is extemely likeable and has guts to move up and fight for a title against a very good fighter.

im no fan of khan but i want him to succeed just to annoy all the racist british public. calzaghe made a career of fighing nobodys or old fighters and people say hes a legend, now khan doing the same thing and gets blasted all the time. just cos all the people comments are saying there not racist doesnt means nobody else in britain is.btw you may have noticed khan is a different race to lennox, benn etc pakistanis and muslims are alot more hated so its not a fair comparison

Lets get off the race issue. Its got nothing to do with race full stop. Why do people always pull the race card?. Why is it in todays socity with all this pc crap going on we are constantly under threat of being called a racist at every opartunity? If you ask me the people who constanly bring race issues into debate are actually racist themselves. I watch boxing because I enjoy watching Boxing. Race colour or creed is not an issue as long as the guy is Boxing. If I dont like the way the guy Boxers for whatever reason ie he fights has beens, hes boring, etc and I state this, why does some idiot have to come out with (Its because hes asian, hes gay , hes white, hes Black, its cos hes a jew, its cos hes a muslim and all the favourite pc impact statements!!).

I for one dont like having to pay sky £15 to watch Khan fight the likes of that irish PE Teacher who look like he had never laced a glove. Why should the British public have to pay to watch that crap!? Its insulting to anybody who knows their Boxing. Thats why people in Britain are getting sick of Khan or more their sick of the insulting way Frank Warren markets Khan to the(paying) public.

Im sorry ut i just dont understand why Amir should be fighting Murray or Thaxton. Murray looked extremely one dimensional in his last fight against feather fisted Lee McAllister( whos record has been padded with bums and has beens) who would have beat Murray had he not foolishly gotten so complacent and cocky during the fight.I could see Amir boxing Murrays socks off and probably stopping him in the eighth round.Murray would simply have no answer to Khan’s speed.As for Thaxton people claimed that he had rolled back the years by knocking out Juan Melero(whos 36-2-0 record boasts victories against too many fighters without a digit in their winning category) yet he promptly lost his european belt to unknown Anthony Mezzache albeit closely.If Thaxton were to fight Khan he would also be outboxed and would probably exhaust himself by trying to land the one big punch to knock out Khan as was his downfall in his last fight.Dont get me wrong,these are two excellent domestic fighters who i would love to see fight each other as has been hinted by Thaxton but i just cant see them beating Khan and why people would rather see him fight these two rather than a genuine world champion who is a much bigger challenge.If he wins this would be a much better case for him to be on the world stage rather than Murray or Thaxton.

I for one certainly dont dislike Khan for his race and im sure its not the case with a lot of the other comments people have entered.
Prince Naseem Hamed would come under that word buncey used yet i feel that Naz deserved all oppurtunities that he got, from a young age he was ripping through domestic and european opposition and despite him being big-headed he was incredible and lived up to his words except when he fought a PRIME Barrera.
The problem Khan has had is up against weak domestic opposition like Willie Limmond he has really struggled whereas Calzaghe, Bruno, Benn Eubank Naz etc were knocking down there sort like skittles (and there was a healthier opposition back then). Just remember that Khan said he would be retired by 25 after leaving a legacy in his early days, he still hasnt fought the best of the British although i think he would beat Murray, but he must have doubts about Thaxton because they were Mandatories for eachothers belts (brit/commonw) at one time yet Khan pulled out of the purse bids, as stated on ‘bunceys boxing hour’

I like Khan alot, ive always said hes a polite, hard working, skillful, talented young boxer with the desire to do all he can in the sport and the workrate to match it.

Im looking forward to his world title shot and truly hope he wins, ive never wanted him to lose a single fight hes ever had.

But hes flawed with that chin of his, he knows it, his crew knows it, his promoter knows it, his opponants know it and so do we. And to be honest its a very serious flaw. All boxers have a flaw but this is probably the worst one you can have in the sport of boxing.

Unfortunatly Frank Warren STILL trys to hide it from us, he talks Khan up way beyond what we believe hes capable of and has his whole team includin Khan sayin the same thing. Sayin hes guna demolish all his opposition in his time and is the biggest talent out there.

Hes throwing him in with people like Barrera, expecting us to believe its the same Barrera thats become the legend he is. But quite clearly ducking not only the world class opposition that awaits him but even the tougher people at domestic level.

You mentoin Hatton and Calzaghe, they fought the other top Brits and proved they were the best we had before steppin it up, thats the difference there and thats why thier records at the same time were not filled with world class opponants. And they were unbeaten and didnt look shakey in alot of the fights they won.

Were all boxing fans and race does not come into it. But skim us proper fans off the top and i woulndt be suprised to find racism as another reason why people dont like him in this country. Hard to take in this day and age but its still there.

And if you wana know boxers hated more, surely Audley Harrison is there, hes a very talented boxer who at his age had a short time to achieve someting and he doesnt seem to try in fights, hes throwing away his oppertunity because he doesnt seem to have the heart although he certainly has the mouth. Where as Khan trys his heart out and trains his hardest, learns his hardest and fights his hardest.