2019 Primed To Be A Big Year For Singaporean Father-To-Be Amir Khan
2019 could prove to be a landmark year for Singaporean mixed martial arts superstar Amir Khan.
The 24-year-old Singaporean Muay Thai Champion is coming off a World Title opportunity to close out 2018, and now he finds himself among eight of the best lightweights in the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix.
This Friday, 22 February at ONE: CALL TO GREATNESS from the Singapore Indoor Stadium, Khan will face Costa Rica’s Ariel “Tarzan” Sexton in the quarter-finals of the eight-man tournament.
The winner will advance to the semi-finals and move one step closer to a shot at the ONE Lightweight World Title.
Outside the cage, Khan is also set to embark on another chapter of his life, as he will soon welcome fatherhood with a son on the way.
While preparing for the birth of a child may cause some adjustments, Khan shares that he is not looking to change too much with his life.
“I know this is a time people will take a break, or try not to do too many things, but I like to keep my life the same,” Khan shared with ONE Championship.
“It’s not too bad. Some days are tough, but overall, I feel good. It’s not a big issue.
“I’m just super happy in my life right now. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Most athletes who have been in the same position as Khan will be the first to tell you that the birth of a child immediately becomes a source of motivation.
Khan admits, however, that baby or not, he still possesses the same motivation to compete, as he is doing it for himself.
“Some people say a baby gives you more motivation and stuff, but [with] the fight game, I’m doing it mostly for myself,” Khan explained.
“I’ve been doing [martial arts] for a long time. I’ve been training for the last 10 years, and mostly doing it for myself, but it gives me more love in the house.
“I don’t think it’s a big motivation, but it brings good energy. I don’t want to say I can do this because of the baby.”
More than anything, Khan’s first-born child will give him a renewed sense of excitement, being that it is a new experience for him.
“I feel the baby gives me more excitement,” he said. “I’m excited about the fight, but I fight four times a year. A baby is just something new. When I think about it, it just gets me more excited because I’ve never done that before.”
At the end of the day, the Singaporean admits that his son is a source of added motivation to perform to the best of his abilities, especially in the current path that he is on.
“I want my son to say, ‘My daddy is a World Champion,’” Khan expressed.
“That’s on my mind. It’s just a small factor that just adds to my inspiration.
“I just picture him already. It just gives me so much joy and excitement. It puts a big smile on my face.”
