Amir Khan Launches Historic Global Fighters’ Union -‘It Will Be A Massive Positive Change’

Amir Khan has announced that he is part of an initiative to launch a Global Fighters’ Union (GFU) in January. 

This marks his move away from his professional boxing career as he serves as a co-founder of the organization. Khan announced his retirement following his 2022 loss to Kell Brook. The fight was controversial after Khan tested positive for Ostarine. The boxer denied intentional usage, arguing that the amount in his system was so small. However, strict liability means that Khan received a two-year ban. The ban was backdated, as it finished in April 2024. Khan has been linked with a comeback, but so far, it is unlikely. He walked away with a 34-6 record.

However, Khan’s career showed the importance of looking after finances and mental health. The boxer suffered big KO losses against Canelo Alvarez, Breidis Prescott, and Danny Garcia, to name a few. Those defeats could have been enough to end any boxer’s career. However, Khan defied the odds to face the best, securing his financial future. Reports indicate Khan’s net worth is $40 million, but not all boxers have the luxury of that. 

That is where the union comes in. It will try to support boxers financially and their welfare. The union will aim to mirror the Professional Football Association (PFA) in English soccer. It uses money from matches to give back to the players. Ex-boxer Paul Smith and Paul Maloney, a former GMB Union South leader, will also join Khan.

Reaction

“There has to be an organization that’s above everything, that we all have to report to if there’s an issue in any situation. We’ve all had issues, in training, before fights after fights at weigh-ins, on contracts, in retirement. We can’t turn to promoters or boards of controls for so many issues, so to be able to turn to the Global Fighters’ Union for help and get it from people who have been there and done it not just between the ropes but in trade unions, in politics, in law, in the media and in education will be a massive positive change for everyone in our sport,” Khan said 

“We’ve spent 2024 laying the groundwork for the GFU to become a recognized trade union and we will launch it officially 1 year after we announced our plans to build it. Through 2024 our team, structure and targets have all been established, and we will start the process of change in combat sports with a list of year 1 actions to be published shortly. It’s the right time for a new organization dedicated to improving the business of combat sports at all levels to emerge, and we are grateful for all the support which has got us to this point,” Smith

“The GFU will prioritize achieving parity for its members with regard to funding packages provided by other sporting rights owners to the trade unions representing their athletes. There is no place in modern sport for a landscape where workplace rights enjoyed by footballers and other sports people are denied to combat sports participants,” Maloney

Find all the latest boxing news and MMA breaking updates on boxingnews.com.