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      Amir Khan goes from Olympic hero, world champion and I’m A Celebrity star to receiving two-year drugs ban from boxing

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      AMIR KHAN will have to channel every bit of his fighting spirit to return from his latest scandal.The Bolton boxer, 36, has been BANNED from the sport for two years after testing positive for an illegal substance following his bout with Kell Brook last year.
      Amir Khan, pictured with wife Faryal, has been banned from boxing for two yearsCredit: BBC
      Khan failed a drug test following his bout with Kel BrookCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      The epic rise of Amir Khan began at the 2004 OlympicsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Khan retired following the defeat to his Brit rival – for which he pocketed a staggering £5MILLION.
      However, it has since emerged he tested positive for ostarine, in the aftermath of that loss.
      Khan has claimed ingestion of the banned substance was NOT intentional.
      Ostarine is a drug designed to have similar effects to testosterone, used by athletes and bodybuilders to boost muscle mass and performance.
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      However, it has also been used to treat muscle-wasting diseases and osteoporsis.
      Khan has enjoyed plenty of highs and endured lows in his career before in and out of the ring.
      And it began so promisingly…
      Olympic hero
      Khan rose to prominence in extraordinary fashion at the 2004 Olympics.
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      He was Great Britain’s only representative in boxing in Athens – but that didn’t faze him.
      At just 17, he on a silver medal in the lightweight category – becoming Britain’s youngest medallist since Carl Jones in 1976.
      He lost in the final to Cuban Mario Kindelan, who had also beaten him in the pre-Olympic warm-up bouts.
      A staggering eight million viewers tuned in to watch Khan fight on the BBC.
      It was clear from then a star was born.
      Champion
      Khan’s rise escalated quickly when he turned pro.
      In his 13th fight he defeated Willie Limond to become the Commonwealth lightweight champion.
      Then in 2008, he knocked out Martin Kristjansen – landing the WBO Inter-Continental lightweight title.
      Surprisingly knocked out in just 54 seconds by Breidis Prescott in his 19th fight, meant Khan lost his invincibility.
      But like any true warrior, he would win back his belt with victory over Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera.
      After defeating Marco Antonio Barrera – Khan landed the WBO title againCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Canelo Alvarez knocks out Khan in 2016Credit: Getty
      Khan went unbeaten for two years until a loss to Lamont Petersen, who was later stripped off Khan’s WBA belt for failing a drugs test. Another defeat in his comeback fight against Danny Garcia in 2012 saw Khan finally lose that WBA belt.
      On a world scale, losses to Canelo Alvarez in 2016 and Terence Crawford in 2019 would show Khan was left wanting at this stage of this life.
      But there were other things going on in his life.
      Finding love
      In 2012, Khan was introduced to the beautiful Faryal Makhdoom at a party in New York.
      They immediately hit it off – with their relationship beginning to flourish.
      Faryal was just 19-years-old when the pair started dating and she wed Amir just a year later.
      The 2013 New York ceremony was a lavish affair and was followed by a second celebration in the UK with 4,000 guests.
      A year later, they welcomed their first child together – daughter Lamaisah born in 2014.
      A second daughter, Alayna would follow in 2018, and then Muhammad in 2020.
      But, their romance was far from perfect.
      Khan and Faryal Makhdoom’s romance has had its ups-and-downsCredit: Instagram / @amirkingkhan
      The Khans have three children togetherCredit: BBC
      Glam Faryal met Khan when she was just 19 in New YorkCredit: Instagram / @faryalmakhdoom
      Cheating allegations
      Khan allegedly slept with beautician Sophia Hammani, 22, on May 10, 2018 – just 17 days after his wife gave birth to their daughter Alayna.
      Sophia exclusively told The Sun that she spent the night with the boxer in his hotel room after meeting him in a London club.
      The boxer slammed the claims on Twitter saying, “What total nonsense!
      “She was wanting a pic but was told to leave by security due to her being too drunk. IMO that’s the reason she sold a story.
      “Quite strange at the fact that there is no photos of us together.
      Those cheating allegations rocked wife Faryal who unfollowed him on Instagram.
      But it wasn’t the first time that he was accused of playing away.
      In January 2018, Sandy Hunter claimed they had a passionate affair and he has also been accused of sharing sex cam chats.
      The couple briefly split in August 2017, when explosive tweets from Amir Khan’s Twitter account claimed he has split from wife.
      The sportsman even accused her of cheating on him with fellow boxer Anthony Joshua.
      Sophia Hammani was alleged to have had an affair with KhanCredit: Instagram
      Khan and Faryal reconciled and are still married despite the alleged infidelitiesCredit: Instagram / @amirkingkhan
      The initial tweet on the boxer’s account read: “So me and the wife Faryal have agreed to split. I’m currently in Dubai. Wish her all the best.”
      After a brief meeting at the couple’s marital home in Bolton, model Faryal hit back, accusing him of being the unfaithful party as the pair’s relationship breakdown played out on social media.
      However they reconciled and posted a loved-up Instagram pic.
      I’m a Celeb…
      Khan’s sports star status has already seen him crossover to celebrity – appearing on TV shows, including Countdown, Beat the Star, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, and Celebrity Juice.
      But it was I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! where he would find new fans and get his first taste of reality TV.
      He arrived in Brisbane as the highest-paid contestant – beating Katie Price’s previous record – earning a reported £400,000. Although it was reported he donated part of his fee to Barnado’s, for whom he is an ambassador.
      Khan would provide good value for money – finishing fifth overall in the jungle.
      He caused much hilarity in the Bushtucker Trial ‘Critter-cal Rescue’, where he had collect tokens from boxes containing snakes and giant beetles.
      This year, he has been confirmed to appear on the spin-off I’m a Celebrity… South Africa.
      That comes after Amir and Faryal have become reality TV stars in their own right.
      Meet the Khans: Big in Bolton is already in its third season.
      Khan appeared on I’m a Celeb in 2017Credit: PA:Press Association
      Meet the Khans: Big in Bolton is in its third seasonCredit: BBC
      Call it Kardashian-light, gave us a glimpse into his world with his pretty American influencer wife and their family.
      It has proven to be popular – drawing six million requests on iPlayer.
      Riches
      In recent years, Khan, who is believed to be worth £32million, has showcased his wealth – whether that’s on the TV or through social media.
      Fast cars, including a £160,000 Porsche 911 Turbo, a £271,000 Lamborghini Aventador, £233,000 Rolls-Royce Phantom and a £65,000 Range Rover beef up his ever-increasing car collection.
      While Khan and Faryal enjoy the high-life with a plush holiday home in Dubai.
      In 2020, Khan was also happy to share an extravagant purchase on social media of amazing watch.
      And no doubt he would’ve wowed his 1.4 million followers on Instagram with an astonishing timepiece.
      He revealed a snap of his wrist modelling a Richard Mille RM 032 dive watch that can cost anywhere from £95,000 to £111,000.
      The Khans boast a stunning holiday home in DubaiCredit: Instagram / @amirkingkhan
      Khan once revealed he bought his son a £30,000 Rolex watch
      Khan boasts an impressive car collectionCredit: BBC
      A £160,000 Porsche is part of Khan’s amazing fleet of carsCredit: https://www.instagram.com/amirkingkhan/
      A year later, Khan’s kindness extended to his son, Muhammad when he bought him his first watch.
      He was handed a £30,000 Rolex, and on an Instagram stories clip he shared a photo of the pricey gift.
      Last month, two men were convicted of robbing Khan for his bespoke rose gold diamond-encrusted Franck Muller watch, worth between £60,000 and £70,000 at gun point.
      Khan recently revealed: “I feared my kids would grow up without their dad.”
      While Faryal added: “I thought we were both going to die.”
      Read More on The Sun
      These are tough times for Khan but he has bounced back in the past.
      Expect him to make compelling viewing when he appears in the next instalment of I’m a Celeb. More

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      I’m scared to go out after being held up at gunpoint for my £72k watch – the attack felt like a lifetime, Amir Khan says

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      AMIR Khan has revealed he’s now scared to go out after being held up at gunpoint for his £72,000 watch. The former world champ, 36, said it “felt like a lifetime” between the moment the gun was first pointed at his head to when he handed over the diamond-encrusted timepiece.
      Amir Khan, pictured with wife Faryal, told of his gun robbery terrorCredit: Doug Seeburg
      The attack, which the boxer said felt like ‘a lifetime’, was snapped on CCTV
      The 36-year-old opened up with Good Morning Britain this morningCredit: GMB
      Amir – an Olympic silver medallist in 2004 – has opened up about the horror, which unfolded almost a year ago to the day.
      Two men admitted involvement in the robbery, on April 18 last year.
      In recent weeks two others were found not guilty of acting as spotters.
      The 36-year-old exclusively spoke to The Sun after the hearing, and this morning sat down for an interview with Good Morning Britain.
      Read more on Amir Khan
      Amir bravely recalled the terrifying night when he handed over his £72,000 watch at gunpoint in London.
      He told Good Morning Britain: “Life just goes past you, you think about your family, your children.
      “It felt like a lifetime but it probably lasted only 10-15 seconds.”
      CCTV snapped the moment the boxer left a restaurant with wife Faryal when a gang pulled up in a Merc, pointed the weapon in his face and demanded his watch.
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      Amir recalled: “I remember looking straight in the barrel when he put it right in front of me. Down the barrel.
      “I thought if he is going to shoot, I need to look away.”
      He revealed he still feels scared today, and has moved his family abroad as elsewhere feels safer than the UK.
      Amir said: “I’m very picky now where I go. I pick and choose what time I go to places and make sure that sometimes I take security with me if I go to a very busy place.
      “But it’s made it a little bit difficult to just travel on my own or with my family to places where I would not normally go.
      “I am a little bit scared now when I go to different places.”
      He said he now always has his wife, and three young children, at the forefront of his mind.
      The boxer continued: “When you have a family, you have children, you start to think differently – you’re doing it for them.
      “I just want to make sure I’m going to be safe. I want to see them grow up.”
      It felt like a lifetime but it probably lasted only 10-15 seconds.Amir Khan
      Speaking of shifting to Dubai, Amir said: “It’s a lot safer for me. Living abroad, being abroad.
      “I just feel a little bit safer bringing my kids up and taking them out there. I don’t have no fear.
      “It did shock me a little bit and put me in a lot of fear. I feel a lot more comfortable when I’m over there. ”
      The 36-year-old still praises his wife, who ran to scream for help during the ordeal.
      He said: “I remember him having the gun on the side of my head, I could feel it and obviously I looked back at my wife.
      “She ran back onto the road, she’s probably the best thing that ever happened. I’m lucky she was there.”
      It comes as Amir was today banned from boxing for two years after testing positive for an illegal substance after his Kell Brook fight.
      Read More on The Sun
      He pocketed a staggering £5million for defeating his rival but it has now emerged he tested positive for ostarine in the aftermath of the defeat.
      Khan has claimed ingestion of the banned substance was not intentional.
      Amir, pictured with his children, said he couldn’t stop thinking of his young children during the horror ordealCredit: Doug Seeburg
      The former world champ handed over his £72,000 watch at gunpoint in LondonCredit: Central News More

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      Anthony Joshua recreates famous Muhammad Ali photo with underwater exercise as Brit returns to training already

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA channelled his inner Muhammad Ali by recreating one of the boxer’s most conic photos.Student of the fight game Joshua is, like many boxers of today, a massive fan of the late Ali – who many still regard to be the greatest pugilist of all time.
      Muhammad Ali had several iconic pictures taken of him during his legendary careerCredit: Getty

      Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua tried creating the iconic snap this weekCredit: INSTAGRAM@ANTHONYJOSHUA
      AJ threw several combinations as he shadowboxed underwaterCredit: INSTAGRAM@ANTHONYJOSHUA
      The former undisputed heavyweight champion’s legendary career – which ended in 1981 – was thankfully documented by photographers.
      Perhaps the most iconic photo of The Greatest is Flip Schulke’s 1961 snap of him shadowboxing underwater in a swimming pool.
      And Joshua recently tried his best to recreate the snap.
      Early on Tuesday morning, AJ shared a video of himself throwing combinations in a swimming pool to his Instagram story.
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      But unlike Ali, the Watford warrior wasn’t completely submerged underwater.
      Joshua, 33, returned to the win column last Saturday with a scrappy and bloody points victory over Jermaine Franklin at The O2.
      Victory over the American snapped a two-fight losing streak for the former two-time unified heavyweight champion.
      In his post-fight interview, he said: “Last time I grabbed the mic, it was a bit chaotic so I’m calm.
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      “I appreciate every single person coming out this evening.
      “Inside this squared circle, it’s a different type of energy in here.
      “So I apologise to anybody watching and seeing that type of stuff because we’re sportsmen.”
      He continued: “I respect Jermaine, I respect everyone here tonight.
      “Eddie, thank you for this opportunity, fans and people watching at home, thank you as well.”
      When asked who he’d like to fight next, including a potential fight with Tyson Fury, he said: “You know me, I like to provide for the fans.
      Anthony Joshua returned to the win column last weekend with a scrappy win over Jermaine FranklinCredit: RICHARD PELHAM
      “I know who the fans want. Who do the fans want? They said Fury?
      “The ball is in his court, I will 100 per cent be honoured to compete for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world.
      “I stand here and say that proudly, it would be an honour, so wherever you are if you’re listening.
      “You know my management, you know my promoter.
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      “We’ve had dialect before, so let’s continue this and hopefully we can get this on sooner rather than later.
      “We ain’t getting any younger.” More

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      Amir Khan earned £5m from brutal Kell Brook loss… but contract means he can KEEP cash despite post-fight drug ban

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      AMIR KHAN will be allowed to keep the £5million he earned from fighting Kell Brook despite his drug ban.The retired boxer tested positive for the illegal substance ostarine after his defeat to Brook last year.
      Amir Khan tested positive for a banned substance following his fight with Kell BrookCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Khan will keep the £5million he earned from the fightCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Khan has claimed his ingestion of the substance was NOT intentional, but he has received a two-year fight ban.
      His ban has been backdated to start immediately after the 2022 fight and will run until April 2024.
      And Khan is set to keep his share of the purse from the clash with Brook, believed to be worth £5m.
      The fight took place in February last year and Khan has likely been paid out already.
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      Khan tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine – a Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator designed specially to mimic the effects of anabolic steroids without the side effects.
      However, it has also been used to treat muscle-wasting diseases and osteoporosis.
      The result of Khan’s fight against Brook has now been wiped out.
      In the weeks leading up to the Brook fight, Khan revealed he was yet to be drug-tested and that he was chasing officials to get it done.
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      He called the whole experience “a bit strange” as he was desperate for a “fair fight”.
      Khan retired in 2022 with a record of 34-6 following defeat to Brook, bringing down the curtain on an illustrious career. More

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      Amir Khan breaks silence after being banned from boxing and gives BIZARRE excuse for failed drugs test

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      AMIR KHAN has broken his silence after being hit by a two-year ban for testing positive for a banned substance.He claims his ingestion of the substance was NOT intentional, but he has received a two-year fight ban.
      Amir Khan claims he has never cheated in his careerCredit: Sky Sports
      The fighter suggested he could have ingested the banned substance unintentionallyCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Khan tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine – a Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator designed specially to mimic the effects of anabolic steroids without the side effects.
      But he claims he could have ingested the substance in a number of ways – even by shaking hands with someone.
      In an interview with Sky Sports News he said: “I’ve never cheated.
      “I’m a retired fighter… you can see by my performance. My performance against Kell Brook wasn’t the best.
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      “I lost the fight… if I’d gone in and knocked him out if would be different.
      “I’ve never cheated in my life… I was the one who wanted testing on the fight.
      “The amount that was in my system could have been from shaking hands.
      “I didn’t know what the drug was in my system.
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      “I’ve got a two-year ban now which is quite strange and funny that they’ve banned me… I’m already retired anyway.”
      Khan lost to bitter rival Brook in February 2022 but pocketed £5million from the clash, which he is able to keep. More

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      Why has Amir Khan been banned and will he fight again?

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      AMIR KHAN hasn’t been the ring since his stoppage defeat to Kell Brook last year.The legendary Bolton boxer’s clash with Brook was years in the making and culminated in a massive pay-per-view event in Manchester.
      Amir Khan lost to Kell Brook by sixth-round TKO last yearCredit: Getty
      But now the fight has been clouded by news that Khan failed a drug test just hours after the fight in February 2022.
      Khan boxed all over the world, including in Las Vegas, New York and Saudi Arabia, becoming a world champion along the way.
      He first made his name at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, where he won silver and was credited with getting British boxing back to its feet.
      Khan, however, has now been banned from the spot he loves for at least TWO years.

      Why has Amir Khan been banned?
      Khan has been banned because he tested positive for the banned drug ostarine following his loss to Brook.
      “Professional boxer and Olympic medallist Amir Khan has been banned from all sport for two years following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) for the presence and use of a Prohibited Substance,” a UK-Anti Doping statement read.
      “On 19 February 2022, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) collected an In-Competition urine Sample from Mr Khan after his fight against Kell Brook at the Manchester Arena.
      “Mr Khan’s Sample returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for ostarine.”
      Most read in Boxing
      Ostarine attaches to proteins in the body known as androgen receptors, when ostarine binds to these receptors, it tells muscles to grow.
      Ostarine can be used for athletic performance, involuntary weight loss caused by illness, breast cancer and numerous other conditions.
      Will Amir Khan fight again?
      It’s unlikely Khan will ever fight again as he retired following the loss to Kell Brook.
      UK-Anti Doping’s imposed two-year ban will prevent Khan from making a big-money comeback, however. More

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      Amir Khan banned from boxing for TWO YEARS after testing positive for illegal substance after Kell Brook fight

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      AMIR KHAN has been BANNED from boxing for two years after testing positive for an illegal substance following his defeat to Kell Brook last year.The Bolton boxer, 36, retired following the defeat to his Brit rival – for which he pocketed a staggering £5MILLION.
      Amir Khan has been banned from boxing for two years after testing positive for a banned substance following his 2022 defeat to Kell BrookCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      Amir Khan lost to Kell Brook last year and it has since emerged he tested positive for banned substance ostarine.Credit: Getty
      But now it has emerged Khan – Olympic silver medallist in 2004 – tested positive for ostarine in the aftermath of the defeat.
      Khan has claimed ingestion of the banned substance was NOT intentional.
      Ostarine is a drug designed to have similar effects to testosterone, used by athletes and bodybuilders to boost muscle mass and performance.
      However, it has also been used to treat muscle-wasting diseases and osteoporosis.

      The result of Khan’s fight against Brook has now been wiped out.
      His ban has been backdated to start immediately after the 2022 fight and will run until April 2024.
      Khan has now broken his silence, telling Sky Sports: “I’ve never cheated.
      “I’m a retired fighter… you can see by my performance. My performance against Kell Brook wasn’t the best.
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      “I lost the fight… if I’d gone in and knocked him out if would be different.
      “I’ve never cheated in my life… I was the one who wanted testing on the fight.
      “The amount that was in my system could have been from shaking hands.”
      Khan continued: “I didn’t know what the drug was in my system.
      “I’ve never cheated in my life… I’d never cheat.
      “Like I said, I am a retired fighter. I’ve got a two-year ban now which is quite strange and funny that they’ve banned me… I’m already retired anyway.”
      On a potential return to the ring, Khan added: “[I’ve got] no comeback plans at all.
      “But, like I said, I’ve never cheated and never will. That’s just not something I would do.”
      UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) earlier confirmed the news in a statement.
      It read: “Professional boxer and Olympic medallist Amir Khan has been banned from all sport for two years following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) for the presence and use of a Prohibited Substance.

      “On 19 February 2022, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) collected an In-Competition urine Sample from Mr Khan after his fight against Kell Brook at the Manchester Arena.
      “Mr Khan’s Sample returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for ostarine.
      “UKAD notified Mr Khan of the AAF on 6 April 2022 and that he may have committed ADRVs under the 2021 UK Anti-Doping Rules (ADR).
      “UKAD issued him with a Provisional Suspension from all Code-compliant sport on the same date.
      “On 20 July 2022, UKAD charged Mr Khan with the commission of two ADRVs: Presence of a Prohibited Substance and Use of a Prohibited Substance.
      “Mr Khan accepted the violations charged but maintained that his ingestion of ostarine was not ‘intentional’.”
      UKAD went on to reveal the case was referred to the National Anti-Doping Panel – with the charges upheld.
      The statement continued: “As a consequence his case was referred to the National Anti-Doping Panel to be considered by an independent tribunal.
      “Mr Khan’s case was heard by the independent tribunal on 24 January 2023 and in its written decision dated 21 February 2023, the panel found both violations proved, concluded that Mr Khan had established that they were not ‘intentional’ within the meaning of ADR Article 10.2.3 and imposed a two-year ban on him.
      “The panel also disqualified Mr Khan’s result from the bout against Mr Brook.
      “Mr Khan’s two-year ban is deemed to have commenced on 6 April 2022 (the date his Provisional Suspension was imposed) and will expire on 5 April 2024.”
      In the weeks leading up to the Brook fight, Khan revealed he was yet to be drug-tested and that he was chasing officials to get it done.
      He called the whole experience “a bit strange” as he was desperate for a “fair fight”.
      Khan retired in 2022 with a record of 34-6 following defeat to Brook, bringing down the curtain on an illustrious career.
      The Bolton star was catapulted into the spotlight after bagging silver at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004.
      Khan won his first 18 fights but lost the biggest fights of his career against the likes of Canelo Alvarez, Terence Crawford and Brook.
      Read More on The Sun
      Arguably his biggest scalps came with wins over Marcos Maidana and Paulie Malignaggi (both 2010).
      Khan also beaten Marco Antonio Barrera and Andriy Kotelnik (both 2009) during his glittering career in the ring, as well as Devon Alexander in 2014. More

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      Vitaly Merinov dead at 32: Tributes paid to world kickboxing champ after Ukrainian dies on frontline of war with Russia

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      KICKBOXING champion Vitaly Merinov has died fighting in Ukraine aged 32.The Ukrainian was killed on the front line in the war with Russia with tributes quickly being paid to the “hero”.
      Vitaly Merinov died on the front line of the war with Russia
      Tributes have poured out for the 32-year-oldCredit: Reuters
      Merinov leaves behind a wife and daughterCredit: Reuters
      He was a national champion in kickboxing
      Merinov coached boxing and MMA
      Merinov died in hospital on March 31 according to the mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk, Ruslan Martsynkiv.
      He said: “During one of the fights, Vitaly received a gunshot wound in his leg. He recovered and returned to the front again and defended Ukraine to the last breath.
      “He has a wife and a two-year-old daughter left. Sincere condolences to the family and loved ones. Eternal memory to the Hero!”
      Merinov is a four-time world champion in kickboxing who is believed to have signed up for the war effort on the first day of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
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      He reportedly leaves behind a wife and daughter and many have paid tribute to his heroic efforts.
      Two-time Winter Olympian Vladyslav Heraskevych wrote: “Vitaly Merinov died at night from wounds received in battle.
      “Four-time world kickboxing champion Vitaly went to war on the very first day of the full-scale invasion. He defended Ukraine until his last breath.
      “He is survived by his wife and two-year-old daughter. Glory to the hero!”
      Most read in Boxing
      One tribute read: “Vitaly Merinov died fighting for freedom, Justice & democracy. This hero will not be forgotten.”
      Another said: “What a brave person. Going back to the frontline when he was wounded. I know that this isn’t unusual in Ukraine, but still it’s.
      “I’m so sorry for Vitaly’s family and friends’ loss. RIP and glory fallen hero Vitaly Merinov 🙏”
      And a third commented: “Rest in heavenly peace hero Vitaly Merinov. Condolences to the loved ones. We will not forget we shall remember.”
      Merinov was also a national champion in MMA and earned the title of master of sports in boxing.
      Ukraine sports minister Vadym Huttsait revealed the war has claimed the lives of 262 Ukrainian athletes.
      Another boxing champion Maksym Galinichev passed away last week on the front lines – he was a European champion aged 22. More