After suffering a sixth-round TKO defeat in April to pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford, Amir Khan will be back in the ring, but this time it is to try and bring two nations together. Khan, from England and of Pakistan decent will face Indian boxer Neeraj Goyat (11-3-2, 2 KOs) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on July 12 in an India vs. Pakistan event called ‘Nations Connect’.
Khan (33-5, 20 KOs) is the heavy favorite going into this bout and is reported to earn in the region of $7 million but has put all the emphasis on the leading cause for this event which will be held at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“This is an exciting challenge that I have ahead of me,” Khan said in a press release. “It will be the first time a British Pakistani will fight an Indian boxer, which eventually will bring the two nations together."
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The former unified junior welterweight champion has gone through his fair share of wars against the likes of Crawford, Danny Garcia and a vicious knockout loss to Canelo Alvarez in May 2016 that caused a nearly two-year hiatus. Going through those intense battles have made Khan think about stepping away if he can't get by Goyat next month.
"Let's see how I feel in this fight. If I don't feel like myself, I'll probably just call it a day," Khan said to BBC Sport at his media workout. "The former unified light-welterweight champion added "I have achieved what I wanted to achieve in the sport, so it's now just enjoying the sport. I want to see how I feel in the fight and take it from there - If things didn't go the right way or I don't feel good, I know myself I would hang up the gloves right away."
Goyat (11-3-2, 2 KOs) turned professional in 2011 and is well known in India but pretty anonymous worldwide. The 27-year-old has the hopes of the Indian nation behind him when he steps in the ring with the 2004 Olympic silver medallist.
“This opportunity is as big as it gets for me.” Goyat also said in a press release. “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 1.2 billion (people) on my shoulders who will expect me to bring the title by causing an upset.”