Haroon Khan (boxer)

Haroon Iqbal Khan[2][3] (born 10 May 1991) is a British and Pakistani professional boxer, and Commonwealth Games Bronze medallist.

Haroun Khan
Born
Haroon Khan

10 May 1991 (1991-05-10) (age 33)[1]
Bolton, England
Other namesKing
Statistics
Weight(s)Super flyweight
Height168 cm (5 ft 6 in)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights7
Wins7
Wins by KO3
Losses0
Medal record
Representing  Pakistan
Commonwealth Games
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Delhi Flyweight

Personal life

Khan was born in Bolton, England, to a Pakistani Punjabi family with roots in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.[4]

He is the younger brother of former WBA and IBF World Light Welterweight Champion Amir Khan and is the first cousin of English cricketer Sajid Mahmood, related through a Paternal grandfather, Lal Khan, who came to England after being discharged from the Pakistan Army.[5]

Prior to boxing, Khan played football for his local club before the club was eventually shut down. Khan supports his local football team Bolton Wanderers and he also enjoys Indian Premier League cricket. His all-time favorite boxer is Oscar De La Hoya.[6]

In 2016, Khan married Arifa Janjua in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.[7] Khan and Janjua then flew back to Bolton where their Walima took place.[8]

Amateur career

Khan took up boxing through watching his older brother prevail at the sport as a youngster,[9] as an amateur, he fought in the Bantamweight class where he held 66 wins and 19 losses. Khan has previously won the Junior ABA Championships once and Junior Four Nations Challenge twice.[6]

2010 Commonwealth Games

The highlight of his Amateur career came when he qualified for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi following a defeat over Tanzanian boxer Sunday Elias with a blow to the head in the third round.[10]

Khan chose to represent Pakistan[11] after being overlooked by the Team GB selectors in favor of Andrew Selby, who he went on to beat in the quarter-finals,[12] and was thus guaranteed a medal before losing out to the eventual gold medalist, Indian boxer Suranjoy Singh. He became one of two Pakistanis to win a bronze-medal for boxing in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the other being Muhammad Waseem.[13]

2012 Olympics ban

Khan was banned by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) from representing Pakistan in World Amateur Boxing Championships, a qualifier to the 2012 Olympics, as he prepared for the tournament because he had represented for England as a youth even though he gained Pakistani citizenship in 2010. His father tried to appeal the ban but failed to have it lifted.[14]

Professional career

Super flyweight

Khan debuted at super flyweight, and was coached by Oliver Harrison, his elder brother Amir Khan's former coach.[6]

Professional boxing record

7 wins (3 knockouts, 4 decisions), 0 losses (0 knockouts, 0 decisions), 0 draws[1]
Res.RecordOpponentTypeRd.DateLocationNotes
Win7-0 Gyula DoduKO22017-14-10 Robin Park Center, Wigan, Greater Manchester
Win6-0 Patrik BartosTKO12017-19-05 Bolton Whites Hotel (formerly De Vere Whites), Bolton, Greater Manchester
Win5–0 Csaba KovacsPTS62014-06-07 De Vere Whites, Reebok Stadium, Bolton, Greater Manchester
Win4–0 Francis CroesPTS42014-02-07 Ice Sheffield, Coleridge Road, Sheffield, Yorkshire
Win3–0 Stefan SlavchevPTS42013-11-15 Winter Gardens, Blackpool, Lancashire
Win2–0 Vincente MedellinTKO12013-05-19 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New JerseyAmerican Debut
Win1–0 Brett FidoePTS42013-04-27 Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield, YorkshireProfessional Debut

Awards

In January 2014, he was awarded the Best at Sport award at the British Muslim Awards.[15]

See also

References