Amir Khan: Armed robbery terror was scarier than any of my fights
Former world boxing champion Amir Khan told a jury staring down the barrel of a gun as armed robbers seized his £70,000 watch was “scarier than any of his fights”. The prizefighter, 36, was enjoying an evening out with wife, Faryal Makhdoom, 31, when he was targeted as they left the Sahara Grill Restaurant in Leyton, east London, on April 18 last year.
Snaresbrook Crown Court heard how he was forced to hand over his bespoke, rose gold, diamond-encrusted Franck Muller watch, a gift following a boxing match, by gun-toting Dante Campbell, 20.
Mr Khan, who was a unified world champion at light welterweight, said the robber pointed a gun in his face and said: “Take off the watch.”
The boxer, who retired last year, told the jury: “I was really scared. I have got three kids, my wife was next to me as well.
“I’m a sportsman, I’m a fighter. I have always been put in the toughest situations when I go into the ring and fight someone, but this was totally different, very, very scary.”
Bolton-born Mr Khan, who currently lives in Dubai, added: “I remember the gun – a foot from my face. I remember looking right into the barrel there, looking into the gun barrel.”
Mr Khan revealed had been shopping in Knightsbridge while his influencer wife was doing a photoshoot, before heading to the restaurant to celebrate breaking the Ramadan fast.
He said the attacker sporting a scarf over his face came “fast” as he walked towards a car.
He said: “It’s the first time I have ever seen a gun – I didn’t want him to pull the trigger.
The boxing ace said he could hear his wife crying and screaming as the gunman and another robber ran off before people from the restaurant raced towards them.
Ismail Mohamed, 24, from Edmonton; Ahmed Bana, 25, from Tottenham; and Nurul Amin, 25, from Harringay; all north London, are on trial where they deny conspiracy to rob.
Bana also denies possessing an imitation firearm.
Gunman Campbell, from Hornsey, also north London, has pleaded guilty to the charges, the jury has been told.
Philip Evans KC, prosecuting, said the “carefully planned and executed robbery”, which was captured on CCTV played to jurors, was “over in seconds”.
The trial continues.
