Amir Khan and Anthony Joshua: A Reconciliation Story
After a tumultuous five-year period marked by conflict, boxing stars Amir Khan and Anthony Joshua have seemingly mended their friendship. The rift originated from a controversy that erupted in 2017 when Khan accused Joshua of being involved in misleading text messages about his wife, leading to a fiery outburst on social media.
At that time, Khan was struggling to find his footing in the sport, having just experienced a defeat against Canelo Alvarez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas the previous year.
Background of the Fallout
In the wake of Khan’s accusations, Joshua responded with a mix of humor and clarity, implying that his connection with Khan was not as portrayed. He posted a light-hearted video referencing Shaggy’s popular song “It Wasn’t Me”, expressing disbelief at the situation.
Khan later confirmed that his initial claims were genuine, stating, “Everything you saw on social media today is real. Nothing’s been hacked.”
This public altercation led to a prolonged estrangement between the two athletes, who both share a background in representing Team GB and winning Olympic medals.
Steps Towards Reconciliation
Recent developments have provided a glimmer of hope for their relationship. In an interview with Gary Neville on the show “The Overlap”, Khan expressed regret over the fallout:
“I had the conflict with Anthony Joshua, which I feel awful for, because at the end of the day, he was a friend of mine. Since then, we’ve never spoken. So I lost a good friend through that as well.”
Their recent encounter at a boxing event in Ghana, organized by Khan, served as a visible indication of reconciliation. Khan’s promotion aimed to showcase boxing talent on an international scale and was well received, with World Boxing News reporting on its success. The main event featured Andrew Tabiti triumphing over Jacob Dickson, and the atmosphere was electric in the sold-out venue.
Khan Promotions expressed gratitude for the support, stating:
“Thank you. What a night! We’ll continue to do it again and again. Ghana, thank you. This is only the beginning.”
The public appearance of Khan and Joshua together could signal a new chapter in their relationship as they look toward future collaborations in the boxing world.
