AFTER being robbed at gunpoint of his diamond-encrusted £72,000 watch last month, Amir Khan understandably says he’s scared of being in London.
The two-time world champ was in a Leyton street in east London with his wife when he was confronted by the gun-toting mugger.
Yet Khan, by deciding to continue his boxing career, doesn’t seem to understand it will be like putting a loaded pistol to his temple with the safety-catch off.
The thought of Amir stepping back into the ring should chill the blood.
Less than three months ago, when Kell Brook battered him to defeat, we saw a former formidable world champion in sad decline.
It was obvious within seconds of the opening bell, when a left jab turned his legs to jelly, that Khan has little punch resistance left.
READ MORE ON BOXING
And his foot and hand speed and reflexes have eroded to dangerously low levels.
Khan wisely announced his retirement after taking a bad beating.
But inexplicably, and stupidly, he changed his mind and declared he intends to continue fighting.
It has been suggested he would be an ideal opponent for unbeaten welterweight Conor Benn — that would be like making him dive into a pool inhabited by a starving crocodile.
Why family man Amir, 35, a multi-millionaire, would contemplate prolonging such a hazardous occupation is beyond understanding.
SUN BINGO GET £50 BONUS & 50 FREE SPINS TODAY
The only conclusion I can come to is defeat by bitter rival Brook has badly dented his pride.
And he feels the only way to restore his self-esteem as a fighter is to have one more contest and go out a winner. That kind of logic is bordering on lunacy.
Ex-world champions Carl Froch and Carl Frampton are dead against Amir carrying on.
Frampton said: “I think his family and those closest to him need to sit him down and tell him to wise up.
“To repeat an old Joe Bugner line ‘What’s the point of having money if you can’t count it’.”
Froch was just as forthright when he said: “He’s only good for getting knocked out — he needs to retire.”
Read More on SE
There’s never been a finer ambassador for British boxing than Khan — from the moment he won his Olympic silver medal in Athens 18 years ago aged 17.
Every promoter in the country should impose a Khan boycott to save him from himself.
