People started fights in cafes but terrifying gunpoint robbery was last straw, I had to leave UK, says Amir Khan

AMIR Khan’s gunpoint robbery was so horrifying he no longer lives in the UK.

The 38-year-old – one of Britain’s best and most beloved boxers – had a £72,000 watch snatched off him by a masked gunman on the streets of East London in April 2022.

A gun was pointed at Khan’s face – in front of terrified wife Faryal – before robbers demanded his diamond-encrustedFranck Muller Vanguard Chronograph watch.

Two men – Dante Campbell and Ahmed Bana – later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob and possession of an imitation firearm.

Bana was jailed for nine years and eight months – while Campbell was locked up for seven years and nine months.

The watch was also returned by police.

But the attack was so frightening that Khan relocated to Dubai with his wife and three kids – Lamaisah, ten, Alayna, six and Muhammad Zaviyar, four.

Khan told SunSport in the UAE: “Look, I can walk around wearing anything, doing anything.

“I can leave my car door open, it’s just so much safer here. I think the law is much more strict, I think people like us need that.

“Look, I’ve been to cafes, to places where people have started fights and they’ve said something and before you know it there’s a gang of people outside.

“I don’t need that in my life – I’m a retired fighter. I’ve been fighting all my life, there’s no point starting fights on the streets or getting into problems.

“Then the gun crime happened, I just wanted to give the watch away and said, ‘There you go, what do you want? Do you want the watch? There you go, take it.’

“It’s no skin off my nose. I got the watch back and the poor guys got around 12 years each between four of them. Look, it is what it is, the law always catches up on you.

“I think maybe it’s a message to people, don’t be stealing, don’t be carrying guns because you will get punished when you’re caught.”

Khan – who formerly reigned as light-welterweight world champion – and his brother Haroon were attacked by six men in Birmingham in 2012.

The pair are said to have fought off the would-be thieves who allegedly tried to steal Khan’s £125,000 Range Rover.

Khan was involved in another street fight in 2017 in Manchester when a group attacked him during a road rage incident.

And in the aftermath of the gunpoint robbery, Khan and his family were left too fearful to remain in the UK.

He said: “Imagine if I had my kids with me that time. My wife was with me. Even she hates being around or going places.

“We get invited to UK events and stuff like that and I have to turn a lot down because I just don’t know what can happen.

“It’s sad to say but look, I still love the UK. The safest I feel is Bolton, where I live, my hometown. I know everyone there and everyone knows me.

“It’s just when you’ve go out of town it gets a little bit scary sometimes, you just don’t know what can happen, you don’t know the area that well, you don’t know the people there.

“It just gets a bit scary and being recognised everywhere you go, people know you, you’ll always be the attention of the place wherever you go. It makes it a little tough and scary as well.”

Despite Khan’s robbery ordeal, he remains one of Britain’s most celebrated fighters.

He retired in 2022 following a defeat to Kell Brook – but only now gets shown the respect he rightfully deserves after hanging up his gloves.

Khan said: “I thank all the fans, honestly. I’ve been boxing a very long time, literally all my life.

“When you retire, that’s when you realise you was a great champion for Great Britain. I put some great fights on television at home.

“I had great times, UK fans, I do love them and they were amazing.”

Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk