BoxRec

Former world champion Amir Khan will make history when he fights in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Friday 12th July, 2019.

Khan will become the first high profile Muslim boxer to showcase his skills at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah – nicknamed the “The Shining Jewel” in a fight that promises to elevate the Kingdom as a major sporting attraction.

Two-time world champion & Olympic Silver Medallist “King” Khan from Bolton, England, of Pakistani heritage, will face India’s national boxing hero Neeraj Goyat, the WBC Asian Champion, in a showdown with a championship title on the line.

The fight is an important event taking place during Saudi Seasons that will run from 8 June-19 July that aims to transform the Kingdom into one of the most important tourist destinations in the world.

Khan’s rival Goyat is a phenomenon in his home country. Hailing from Chandigarh, Goyat is a pioneer in helping to establish professional boxing in India. He left behind a highly successful amateur career to pursue his dream of becoming a professional boxer and show the world that India can be a new super-power in world boxing. To that end he has fought in numerous countries, including China, Thailand, South Korea, Mexico and Canada and currently holds the WBC Asian crown.

Amir Khan said, “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.”

Neeraj Goyat said, “This opportunity is as big as it gets for me. Everything that I have achieved to date wouldn’t matter when I enter the ring on July 12 taking on a seasoned, established superstar in Amir Khan. I will be carrying the hopes of 1.2bn on my shoulders who will expect me to bring the title by causing an upset.”

The fight, officially endorsed by the Saudi General Sports Authority, fits into the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 Strategy, which was launched in April 2016 to rapidly modernise the country.

Saudi’s energetic young HRH Mohammed bin Salman Crown Prince, who is spearheading the Strategy, is determined to see his country move away from oil dependency towards a future that focuses on economic diversification, innovation and the creative self-fulfilment of its citizens.

Never heard of this guy. Certainly a cultural event.

7 million cash out I can't blame him but hope he hangs them up after

Onetimeonly wrote: ↑31 May 2019, 08:22 Never heard of this guy. Certainly a cultural event.

Amir Khan,former olympic silver medalist,former world champion,from Bolton ,you must have heard his name mentioned on here now and then

bigjack wrote: ↑31 May 2019, 08:26 Amir Khan,former olympic silver medalist,former world champion,from Bolton ,you must have heard his name mentioned on here now and then

Can't say that I have. I'm really only versed in Indian boxing. Does he have a chance with goyat.

This really is brilliant!

Fck Brook!

i know Amir can be a bit of a knob at times but he's ok really but Brook is an idiot with no self respect. Khan has fcked me once more. While Kell is floundering around with nothing happening, Khan got paid to fight a p4p guy and then bounces back with this beauty. The whole time, Kell is sat on the sidelines with his begging bowl out

I read somewhere that Hearn was somewhat involved in this.

Brook must be thinking “wtf is it gonna take for Khan to get in the ring with him”..

Brook has wasted his prime chasing Khan.

Kinda like how Khan wasted his WW prime waiting for Mayweather.

tobyh5 wrote: ↑31 May 2019, 08:32 This really is brilliant!

Fck Brook!

i know Amir can be a bit of a knob at times but he's ok really but Brook is an idiot with no self respect. Khan has fcked me once more. While Kell is floundering around with nothing happening, Khan got paid to fight a p4p guy and then bounces back with this beauty. The whole time, Kell is sat on the sidelines with his begging bowl out

Just about spot on.

People saying Khan won’t get another big payday after Crawford unless he fights Brook?

Khan is well known. Done tonnes of business in the Middle East also.

tobyh5 wrote: ↑31 May 2019, 08:32 This really is brilliant!

Fck Brook!

i know Amir can be a bit of a knob at times but he's ok really but Brook is an idiot with no self respect. Khan has fcked me once more. While Kell is floundering around with nothing happening, Khan got paid to fight a p4p guy and then bounces back with this beauty. The whole time, Kell is sat on the sidelines with his begging bowl out

Yes fair play to him,good move.

Anyone see an overconfident Khan forgetting that he has a glass chin and getting hit with a crazy punch?

overhand_right wrote: ↑31 May 2019, 09:15 Anyone see an overconfident Khan forgetting that he has a glass chin and getting hit with a crazy punch?

Stranger things have happened

Can't blame Khan for the money he's getting.

welll this seems sudden and kind of random

makes sense for khan though

jamamb wrote: ↑31 May 2019, 13:55 welll this seems sudden and kind of random

makes sense for khan though

He went Dubai a week ago.

He said he’s going Pakistan soon, maybe after Ramadan and have a presser there.

He’s then coming back to the UK, London I think, for a final presser.

maybe he should just do a middle east tour vs low level opposition like this. would be kind of interesting and hes at a stage where hes fought such good opposition and has not much to prove really

jamamb wrote: ↑31 May 2019, 14:34 maybe he should just do a middle east tour vs low level opposition like this. would be kind of interesting and hes at a stage where hes fought such good opposition and has not much to prove really

Yeh. He said Vijender Singh didn’t want to fight him. I know there was small talk around the Pakistan vs. India fight few years ago. But even then Vij is a SMW.

What do you reckon Boxrec Jolly boys! The night life is fcuking awesome, let’s all get shit faced!

Can’t blame Khan though pulling a Floyd

Nightmare Roy wrote: ↑31 May 2019, 15:11 What do you reckon Boxrec Jolly boys! The night life is fcuking awesome, let’s all get poo faced!

Can’t blame Khan though pulling a Floyd

The undercard would be us drunken infidels having our heads chopped off!

goyat actually beat can xu

"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," Khan said.

"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.

"We are sportsmen and boxers and just want get in the ring and have a great fight. Neeraj is a great champion and for me he is a fighter that I will have train to my best for."

Khan's record stands at 33 wins and five defeats, while 27-year-old Goyat has 11 victories from his 16 professional bouts.
The WBC has sanctioned the fight with a special "pearl title."

“Thank you to WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman for recognizing this historic fight in Saudi Arabia by commissioning a special Pearl Championship belt to be made that will be fiercely fought for between me and Goyat,” Khan said.

So a starting with this, Khan gets a couple of easy wins and fools someone into giving him a shot. He is a survivor! Good for him!

oogiebe wrote: ↑31 May 2019, 17:53 So a starting with this, Khan gets a couple of easy wins and fools someone into giving him a shot. He is a survivor! Good for him!

I bet Brook is hating.

Thinking Khan still making millions fighting random Indian boxers in the Middle East.