Amir Khan was urged to "stay in boxing" after he was quickly choked and forced to tap out in his gym by a young MMA fighter.
Muhammad Mokaev shared the video via Instagram of him tussling with the former boxing world champion in Bolton. But before you assume this is a fresh new way for 'King' Khan to humiliate himself in the ring, we should emphasise that this was clearly a playful training scrap between two pals.
A grinning Khan seems to be attempting a playground-style headlock as the video starts, but his opponent's superior grappling skills soon become clear as he locks on a rear choke hold.
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Khan attempts to wrench himself free but quickly taps out when Mokaev - nicknamed 'The Punisher' - cinches in the hold properly.
It was clearly all in good fun, as Mokaev (who boasts a 2-0 MMA record) posted the video with the caption: "Brother please stay [in] boxing". Khan replied quickly with laughter, showing there were no hard feelings.
While a rapid route into the UFC title picture seems highly unlikely on this display, Khan's future in boxing is also equally doubtful.
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The 33-year-old welterweight hasn't fought since July 2019, when he knocked out overmatched Billy Dib in a comeback bout following his savage loss to the much larger Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez earlier in the year.
Khan, who won an Olympic silver medal as a teenager and made his professional debut at age 20, has even hinted at retirement. That's if the long, long, long talked-about clash between him and UK rival Kell Brook can't be made - a fight that somehow couldn't get put together even when boxing fans were allowed to pack arenas.
March next year is the tentative date for Khan's return to the boxing ring, if it happens.
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Though frankly, if the opponent really does turn out to be Brook, we're a bit worried that 2021 could shape up to be an even more bizarre and shocking sporting year than 2020.
Featured imagery: Instagram/mokaev_muhammad
Featured Image Credit:Topics: MMA News, Boxing News, Boxing, Amir Khan, Fight News, UFC, MMA