FORMER Fijian boxer Wahid “The King” Khan says boxing has always been in his blood.
Now 49, the Lautoka-based businessman spent 21 years in the ring, from 1996 to 2016, recording a total of 78 fights with 56 wins, 16 losses, and 2 exhibition matches.
“I come from a boxing family. My father was a boxer in the 60s and 70s. My uncle, Saiyad Hassan, was a welterweight and middleweight champion of Fiji,” Khan said.
Khan was first introduced to the sport as a schoolboy in Class 2, when he and his friends would spar at home after school.
His formal boxing journey began in Navosa, where training meant long hours, crossing rivers and running hills, sometimes covering up to 15 kilometres a day.
“It was very hard. I had to cross the river every day to train. I’d leave home at 3pm and come back after dark.”
His first official fight came in 1996 against Tanbi Narayan, a bout he won in just 26 seconds.
From there, he built a strong career across the junior middleweight and welterweight divisions, fighting both locally and internationally.
In 2000, he had one of his toughest fights against Kid Dugu in a full eight-round bout at Lawaqa Park, which he won by knockout.
He fought several times in New Zealand, including a title fight against Samoan boxer Ioana Tanapula in 2004, which Wahid won via first-round KO.
“That fight was for the South Pacific Light Middleweight title. Before he fought me, Tanapula fought Joey Ali and lost in the third round. I knocked him out in the first.”
He also recorded wins against an Iraqi opponent in New Zealand and fought a Samoan fighter in Nadi who had previously beaten Joey Ali.
In total, Wahid fought in:
New Zealand: six fights, three wins, three losses
Australia: three fights- one draw, two losses
Japan: one fight and lost
Fiji: Majority of his matches, including four to five losses
His career ended in 2016, but he came back for two exhibition fights after retirement, including a draw against Fijian boxer Opeti Tagi under the Blue Water Boxing Promotion in Suva.
“After that fight, we sat together, walked together, ate together. That’s what boxing was in our time unity, respect.”
Wahid believes today’s boxing culture is different.
“Some boxers today take it too personally. They talk too much, sometimes even using bad words or hitting the fence.
“That’s not boxing. Win or lose, it’s a sport.”
He also raised concerns with the Boxing Commission of Fiji, calling for referee fitness checks before fights.
“They check the boxers before the match.
“They should also check referees so they can clearly see what’s happening in the ring.”
Outside of the ring, Khan is a proud father of three and grandfather of two.
He has run his business Quality Hair and Beauty in Lautoka for 23 years, starting it while still boxing.
He moved to Lautoka from Navosa in 1999 to help care for his father, who was diabetic.
“Boxing didn’t pay much in our time. The highest I got was $7000 for one fight. Today boxers are getting $10,000 to $25,000. That’s good progress.”
Wahid says boxing shaped him into a disciplined, respectful man and though he’s no longer in the ring, he remains a lifelong student of the sport.
Profile
Full Name: Wahid Khan
Boxing Name: Wahid “The King” Khan
Started Boxing: 1996, age 20
Retired: 2016
Fights: 78 (56 Wins, 16 Losses, 4 draws, 2 Exhibition)
Four international win
Divisions: Junior Middleweight, Welterweight
Titles: South Pacific Light Middleweight Champion
Business: Owner of Quality Hair and Beauty, Lautoka (since 2002)
Family: three children, two grandchildren
Hometown: Originally from Navosa, now based in Lautoka
Wahid ‘The King’ Khan in Lautoka. Picture: BALJEET SINGH
