Boxing star Amir Khan opened up about being robbed at gunpoint in London on Monday.
Speaking to TMZ Sports, Khan said the robbery was the "first time I ever had a gun literally pointed at my face."
"I don't feel safe," he added. "I'm in the city, London, which is obviously a very well known town and everyone loves London. Now, after I was robbed, you start hearing other stories or you start reading up on all the robberies that have happened. I mean, it's quite regularly happening."
Khan wrote about the incident on Twitter shortly after it happened:
Khan told TMZ he "definitely" believes the robbery was orchestrated.
"Obviously, I was in a restaurant taking pictures with a lot of people. I've never said no for a picture whenever someone wants to come for a picture," he said.
The former WBA light welterweight champion added he thinks someone must have recognized the watch he was wearing that is "worth like maybe $100,000."
Khan did say he considered trying to disarm the robbers on his own, but he decided against it because there were two of them and his wife, Faryal, was with him.
"Even if he shot the gun and even if it didn't hit me, it could've hit someone else," Khan said.
Per The Guardian, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement that an investigation has been opened.
The statement said no arrests have been made at this point but added they are "following a number of enquiries."
Khan, who was born in the Greater Manchester area of England, most recently fought on Feb. 22 against Kell Brook at the AO Arena in Manchester. He lost in the sixth round via TKO.
Boxer Amir Khan said on Twitter that he was robbed at gunpoint Monday night in London:
He was with his wife, Faryal Makhdoom, at the time, but they are both safe.
Makhdoom shared surveillance footage of the alleged attackers on her Instagram story, via TMZ Sports.
"Seems like a set up to me," she wrote on Instagram. "Considering we didn't even post where we were."
They also posted a picture of the Franck Muller watch that was taken in case it turns up later.
"A man aged in his 30s is alleged to have been approached by two males who threatened him with a firearm before stealing his watch and fleeing," Metropolitan Police said in a statement, via Matias Grez of CNN. "There were no reports of any shots fired or any injuries. Police responded and conducted an area search. At this very early stage there have been no arrests."
Khan is a former WBA and IBF champion and also had high-profile title fights against Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford in recent years. After nearly three years out of the ring, he returned to face Kell Brook in February but suffered a sixth-round knockout.
The pictures, as they tend to do, told a thousand words.
As he sat on his stool before the 12th round, Manny Pacquiao looked like a spent force.
His right eye was swollen. His left eye was bleeding.
And as much or more than those two factors, he looked like an old, tired fighter.
Even as his corner team tried to coax him. Even as the crowd at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas tried to inspire him. Even as he knew what the scorecards were probably about to tell him.
There was nothing left to give.
At least not the level to which he's accustomed.
Faced with the imposing blend of his own limitations and a talented, motivated, short-notice foe across the ring, the Filipino's 42-year-old best wasn't nearly good enough to hold serve as he dropped a narrow, but hard-to-dispute decision to Yordenis Ugas on Saturday (115-113, 116-112, 116-112).
No one who'd watched the entire 36 minutes seemed to have any real contrarian argument.
Not the broadcast team comprised of fighters, trainers and talking heads. Not the majority of the hyper-partisan pro-Pacquiao fans. And not Pacquiao himself, who instinctively raised his hands at the final bell but seemed resigned to the inevitable long before Jimmy Lennon Jr. made it official.
"I'm so thankful to the fans. I'm sorry that we lost tonight, but I did my best," he said, as a respectful Ugas sneaked in for a quick post-fight hug. "That's boxing, and I congratulate my opponent for winning."
Officially, the result legitimized the 35-year-old Cuban's claim on the welterweight title belt he'd been gifted earlier this year when the WBA stripped Pacquiao for inactivity during a global pandemic.
It certainly put Ugas front and center when it comes to calling for opportunities against fellow 147-pound champions Errol Spence Jr.—whose eye injury opened the door for him less than two weeks prior to Saturday—and Terence Crawford, who's reigned since 2018 following previous titles at 135 and 140.
The real takeaway, though, was what it meant for Pacquiao.
Which, for all intents and purposes, really ought to be the end of the line, but not because he embarrassed himself against Ugas.
In fact, given fates often suffered by veteran fighters anywhere close to his age, Pacquiao was a competitive anomaly. He threw more than twice as many punches as his foe (815 to 405), never appeared badly hurt or significantly buzzed and was still consistently pressing forward in the final round.
The fact that it came against a guy who'd won 11 of his last 12 fights—losing only on a split decision to a then-reigning Shawn Porter—and was a legit top-five operator in the division, even more so.
Lest anyone forget, Ray Leonard never won a fight past age 33. Mike Tyson was 0-2 past 36. Muhammad Ali lost to fighters at 38 and 39 who'd have barely laced his boots a decade earlier.
So to say Pacquiao ought to leave because of work quality is foolish.
He was ranked third in the division going in and is still a top-10 talent going out, which means he'd be an odds-on favorite against far more fighters than not.
Still, given the recurring give and take from end to end against Ugas—which saw Pacquiao busy and intermittently effective early before evolving into more catcher than pitcher in the second half—there seems little reason to believe that another six months would translate to success on the highest level.
So why bother?
He complained in the aftermath of tight legs, a familiar issue that won't get any better with age.
His face was reddened and swollen from the first few rounds on, a sure sign of balky punch resistance.
And his lack of welterweight pop—exactly one win by KO since 2009—doesn't provide a game-changing threat to fall back on when all else is failing, as it was Saturday.
Oh, and let's not forget, the guy has other options.
He's a wildly popular politician in the Philippines and has long been considering a run at the country's presidency, a decision he said he'd make for certain by next month. Even if he remains content with his current post as a senator, it's not as if cutting weight and getting punched in the mouth is a must-do.
While he didn't officially show his cards, his words and expressions seemed to lean that way.
"I don't know. Let me relax and make a decision," he said when asked directly if he'd return to the ring. "We're facing difficult problems in more important worlds than boxing.
"I hope that in my more than 20 years I gave you enjoyment."
Well, Manny, let's put it this way:
After 26 years, 25 title fights and 10 alphabet title reigns across seven weight classes, anyone who wasn't entertained wasn't paying attention. And anyone who argues otherwise doesn't know what they're talking about.
"I don't know what's left for him to reach," Fox analyst Joe Goossen said. "I think the man should enjoy the rest of his life outside the gym. Give the guy a break [and] let him go live a normal life."
WBA super featherweight champion Gervonta Davis is facing 14 charges stemming from an alleged hit-and-run in November, according to CBS Baltimore's Rachel Menitoff.
According to court documents, a red light camera showed a 2020 Lamborghini Uris driving through the light and striking a 2004 Toyota Solara on Nov. 5.
Four people were inside the Solara and transported to a local hospital for what State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby described as "recoverable injuries."
Davis is believed to have been driving the Lamborghini at the time of the crash. Security footage from a convenience store also showed the Lamborghini driving into the store's fence.
Per eyewitnesses and video, people moved items from the Lamborghini to a Camaro that arrived at the scene. Davis and a woman then allegedly left in the Camaro.
Among the charges Davis faces are four counts of failure to immediately return and remain at scene of accident involving bodily injury, driving motor vehicle on highway on suspended license and privilege, and driving motor vehicle on highway on revoked license and privilege.
Davis could face up to seven years and 55 days in prison if he's convicted on all 14 charges.
The crash occurred less than a week after Davis' most recent fight, a sixth-round knockout of Leo Santa Cruz on Oct. 31 to improve his record to 24-0.
Vasiliy Lomachenko underwent shoulder surgery Monday after his recent loss Teofimo Lopez, the boxer's manager Egis Klimas told Steve Kim of ESPN.
Lomachenko had previously dealt with pain in his shoulder at least six weeks before Saturday's fight and then suffered an injury to the spot in the second round of the eventual loss. The 32-year-old fought well in the second half of the fight, but Lopez came away with the win by unanimous decision, securing the WBC, WBO and WBA titles in the process.
Even with the loss marking Lomachenko's first defeat since 2014, his camp doesn't want to blame the injury.
"We didn't want to look like we were looking for excuses or something," Klimas said.
Still, he received two injections for the pain over the past two months and his father, Anatoly, wanted the fighter to drop out of the fight.
Klimas said the surgery will keep him out until at least mid-January when he can resume training.
When healthy, Lomachenko remains one of the biggest stars in the sport. He had been No. 1 in ESPN's pound-for-pound rankings earlier in the year while even after his latest loss, Brian Campbell of CBS Sports rated him as the No. 5 fighter in the world.
The time off for rehab could provide time to evaluate his next move, whether that will be a rematch with Lopez or changing weight classes or something else.
Keith Thurman has never lost. Manny Pacquiao has won a championship in eight divisions, something no other boxer has done. On Saturday, the two welterweights will step into the ring together for the first time for the WBA "super" welterweight title.
It's shaping up to be a great fight as Pacquiao, the WBA "regular" welterweight champion, will look to take the WBA "super" welterweight championship from Thurman, whose 29 career victories include 22 by knockout. The fight will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Both fighters have something to prove. Thurman is looking to show he has shaken off the ring rust evident in January's fight against Josesito Lopez, his first in nearly two years because of injury. Pacquiao will aim to show he can still win big matches at 40.
Here's everything you need to know heading into Saturday's fight, as well as a prediction about which fighter will take home the title.
Fight Info
When: Saturday, 20 July, 9 p.m. ET
Where: MGM Grand in Las Vegas
TV: Fox Sports Pay-Per-View ($74.99)
Live Stream: Fox Sports Pay-Per-View
Odds (via Caesars): Pacquiao -160 (bet $160 to win $100) vs. Thurman +140 (bet $100 to win $140)
Preview, Prediction
Pacquiao may have had more success between the two fighters, but he may also have more to prove entering this fight. As a veteran, he has to show that he can still cut it between the ropes against opponents in their primes.
"People are doubting my capability at the age of 40," Pacquiao said, according to the New York Post's George Willis. "I have to prove something at this time."
This should be a great challenge for Pacquiao, as Thurman is 10 years younger and has a two-inch reach advantage. However, the "super" welterweight titleholder will be fighting for only the second time since he missed nearly two years because of injury. In his only fight since returning, Thurman defeated Lopez by majority decision on Jan. 26.
Thurman isn't taking the opportunity to fight one of the sport's all-time greats for granted. His only goal entering this match is to continue his undefeated streak.
"This is an amazing opportunity to fight Manny Pacquiao," Thurman said, per Willis. "It's as if I'm fighting Sugar Ray Robinson or Roberto Duran. This is Manny Pacquiao. It's a tremendous feeling and it's going to feel even better when my hand is raised."
Pacquiao and Thurman are likely to go the distance in this fight; Thurman hasn't knocked out an opponent since 2013, and Pacquiao has lost four of his past 12 fights, winning only one by knockout over that stretch.
While Thurman won't be able to knock out Pacquiao, his undefeated streak won't be coming to an end. He will get the best of the 12-time champ, outlasting the veteran in a fight that won't be decided until the final rounds, when his youth and athleticism prove to be the difference.
Pick: Thurman wins via unanimous decision.
Champion vs. champion. One of boxing's all-time greats vs. an undefeated fighter. A battle for welterweight supremacy.
On Saturday, Manny Pacquiao and Keith Thurman will go head-to-head in a match that lives up to the excitement and anticipation leading up to the event.
Pacquiao (61-7-2, 39 knockouts, WBA "regular" welterweight champion) will look to win the WBA "super" welterweight title from Thurman (29-0-1, 22 knockouts).
But before these two boxers face off, they will meet at Friday's weigh-in, which takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Then there will be nothing left for these champions to do besides take part in Saturday's 12-round bout.
Here's the latest information heading into the fight.
Fight Info
When: Saturday, 20 July, 9 p.m. ET
Where: MGM Grand in Las Vegas
TV: Fox Sports Pay-Per-View ($74.99)
Live Stream: Fox Sports Pay-Per-View
Preview
Thurman hasn't shied away from his intentions for this fight since he arrived in Las Vegas.
"This goal has been in motion for 23 years," he said, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Sam Gordon. "I want somebody to show the world that Pacquiao is not that dude anymore."
That could be easier said than done for Thurman, even if it appears he may have some advantages over the Filipino.
Thurman has had only one match since returning from a near-two-year injury layoff. He defeated Josesito Lopez by majority decision on Jan. 26, his first fight since March 4, 2017. But he doesn't see his lack of action over the past two-plus years as a disadvantage.
"All athletes get injured and battle to come back," he said, according to the Los Angeles Times' Norm Frauenheim. "Baseball, football. It's part of it. Tiger Woods, look at what happened to him. He was out, he was gone and everybody wondered if he'd come back. He did. But this ain't golf."
Pacquiao will be one of the toughest challengers Thurman has faced in his career. The 40-year-old has been a world champion in eight divisions, winning 12 major world titles.
It will also be a challenge for the veteran, as Thurman is 10 years younger and has a two-inch reach advantage.
"At 40, this fight is one of the most important fights of my career," Pacquiao said, per Gordon. "I want to prove something. My opponent, he's very good at talking."
Pacquiao is coming off a 12-round victory over Adrien Broner on Jan. 19, which he won by unanimous decision. While eight of his past nine fights have gone the distance, he's shown he can still win and may have plenty more in the tank before he decides to retire from the sport.
If Thurman wins, it will cement him as one of boxing's top fighters; if Pacquiao wins, it will be another great chapter in a legendary career. Either way, this fight between two of the best welterweights in the world should deliver some great boxing.
Amir Khan has announced his next fight will be against Indian boxer Neeraj Goyat on July 12, less than three months after he suffered a TKO stoppage to Terence Crawford.
Khan (33-5), a British boxer and Olympic silver medallist of Pakistani descent, will fight Goyat at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The 32-year-old spoke of sport's healing powers ahead of a bout between fighters whose countries have historically shared a great rivalry, per ESPN.com's Dan Rafael:
"This is an exciting challenge that I have ahead of me. It will be the first time a British Pakistani will fight an Indian boxer, which eventually will bring the two nations together. I would like to thank the Saudi government and General Sports Authority for giving me this opportunity, and I'm a firm believer in sport being a great healer."
Per Rafael's report, Goyat's regional welterweight belt will be put on the line. There was speculation the fixture could be an exhibition, and boxing writer Michael Benson highlighted that could still be the case:
Goyat (11-3-2) has a history in mixed martial arts as well as boxing, and he also appeared on the second season of Netflix show "Ultimate Beastmaster."
MailOnline's Jordan Seward wrote that Khan stands to make £7 million from the fight being held in Saudi Arabia.
The bout has earned Khan comparisons to Floyd Mayweather, who made big money from facing Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in an exhibition in Saitama, Japan, in December.
Sports presenter Adam Catterall was in awe of such a lucrative opportunity for the British boxer:
Khan crumbled against Crawford when the pair clashed for the WBO welterweight title in April. His corner threw in the towel after failing to recover from an accidental low blow in the sixth, but Khan was being decisively beaten at the time and encountered criticism that he quit.
His trainer, Virgil Hunter, recently spoke to iFL TV and said he still believed Khan was genuinely hurt when he threw in the towel, a decision he stood by:
A July matchup opposite Goyat could at least restore Khan's confidence and get him back to winning ways. It means he could also win a belt for the first time since he held the WBC Silver crown four years ago.
Khan has lost two of his last four fights—each of which have come via stoppage—but a lucrative encounter against Goyat at King Abdullah Sports City will tempt him back to the ring on July 12.
Leo Santa Cruz successfully defended his WBA featherweight world title on Saturday, as he defeated Rafael Rivera via unanimous decision at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
All three judges scored the bout 119-109 in favor of Santa Cruz. Per the Fox broadcast, Santa Cruz threw 1,273 punches and landed 334 of them. Rivera threw 805 and landed 161.
Santa Cruz was initially scheduled to face Miguel Flores, but the challenger suffered an ankle injury during training camp. Rivera took his place on January 24.
The 30-year-old Cruz improved to 36-1-1 (19 knockouts), with his lone loss coming against Carl Frampton in a featherweight title bout in July 2016. Cruz beat Frampton in a January 2017 rematch and has since defended his belt three straight times.
Rivera fell to 26-3-2. He put up a good fight and unleashed a fury of punches at a couple of points, notably in the ninth and 12th rounds. Dan Rafael of ESPN lauded him for a "great effort."
However, Santa Cruz was clearly the best boxer on this night. He defended the belt in his hometown and told Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times in November 2018 that he was looking for two more fights in 2019: a trilogy match against Frampton and a title unification bout versus WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr.
Santa Cruz also said in a post-match interview on Fox that he's looking to fight again in "June or July" and that he wants to fight three times total this calendar year. He also reiterated interest in meeting Russell.
Russell, 30, has successfully defended the WBC featherweight belt four times, most recently versus Joseph Diaz on May 19.
The 31-year-old Frampton, who sports a 26-2 record, is coming off a unanimous-decision loss to Josh Warrington.
