Boxing: Khan aiming to thrive in ‘peak’ years then call it a day

Amir KHAN turned 25 today, predicting he’ll hit his peak in the next year or two before retiring while still a young man.

Khan, who represented Britain as a 17-year-old at the 2004 Olympics and won the WBA light-welterweight at just 22, faces Lamont Peterson in Washington this weekend with his sights set on a move up to welterweight next year.

He is proud of his career so far, but hopes to cement his legacy in the next couple of years before bowing out on top. “I’m only young and I think I’ve achieved a lot in my career already at this age but I feel I haven’t hit my peak yet,” Khan said. “I think within the next couple of years I’ll achieve my dreams.

“I think I’ll peak around 26 years old, have some big super-fights at around that age and probably call it a day early. I’ve done a lot of things early in my career and that probably means I can retire early as well.” First, though, the Bolton fighter puts his WBA and IBF belts on the line on Saturday against local man Peterson at Washington’s Convention Center. He added: “Even though I know I’ve got the tools in my bag I still go into a fight like a challenger and stick to the instructions from my corner,” he said.