Former light-welterweight world champion Amir Khan and his wife, Faryal Makhdoom, have shed new light on a terrifying ordeal that saw them held at gunpoint. The robbery took place in east London last year, with the perpetrators taking a £72,000 watch.
Two men have since been convicted over the incident, which occurred as Khan and his wife left a restaurant in Leyton last April. The men are due to be sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on a date to be set.
While walking towards their car, Khan was approached by one of the robbers, who pointed a gun in his face and instructed him to take off the watch. CCTV footage showed the culprits arriving at the scene shortly before the attack, and they were arrested two months later.
Makhdoom claims they ‘thought they were both going to die’, while Khan has also provided new details about the encounter.
“In that moment, you think the worst . . . that the kids could be growing up without their dad, that Faryal would be raising them on her own,” the former Olympic silver medalist told The Sun. “Your life flashes before your eyes. I leant my head to the right because I thought, if he is going to shoot me, he can shoot the side of my head.
“I don’t want to see the bullet coming. It was the first time I’ve ever seen a gun in my life. I could see down the barrel. I just took off the watch, he grabbed it. Faryal ran back onto the road and I just froze. I was shaken up. It happened so fast, it registered with me a day after.
“It makes you think, life is very short. People said after, ‘You should’ve fought them’. Are they stupid? I’ve got a family. It’s only a watch. My life means more to me. When you have kids, you have a priority to make sure they are looked after. I had the worst sleep that night. It was like the sleep I have the day before a fight. I was very uneasy.
“The UK isn’t a safe place any more. It’s like living in Mexico. I don’t feel comfortable. I love England. I won a medal for the country but I stay in Dubai now because it’s the only place I feel safe. I’ve had my career, won my fights, got money. I just want to be safe.”
Born in Bolton, Khan turned professional in 2005, just one year after securing a silver medal for Great Britain at the Olympic Games in Athens. He quickly built up a 19-fight winning streak before suffering a shock defeat to Breidis Prescott in 2008.
The retired boxing star, now 36, went on to clash with numerous blockbuster opponents including Marcos Maidana, Zab Judah, Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford. Khan eventually bowed out after suffering defeat against long-term rival Kell Brook last February.
Stay connected with us on social media platform for instant update click here to join our Twitter, & Facebook
We are now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TechiUpdate) and stay updated with the latest Technology headlines.
For all the latest Boxing News Click Here
