Kash Farooq retirement: why has ex British champion boxer retired aged 26 - career highlights and what’s next

Kash Farooq has retired aged 26.

Scottish bantamweight Kash Farooq has been forced to retire from boxing at only 26 years old.

Matchroom Boxing revealed the news on Thursday, revealing that the former British champion has had to end his career because of “unforeseen circumstances”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The decision came as a result of “yearly medicals not being satisfactory for the British [Boxing] Board of Control witih stricter regulations in place”.

Farooq said a doctor advised him to quit despite having his “full health intact”.

In a statement made on Saturday, the Scotsman said: "It would be selfish of me to put myself in danger. Therefore, my trainer Craig [Dickson] and manager Iain Wilson have instructed me to heed the advice from medical professionals.

"This is still a shock for me, as it would be for many others. I am a young athlete who had plenty to offer with unspeakable potential and talent."

Career highlights

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Farooq made his professional debut in 2015 with a victory over Craig Derbyshire in Glasgow.

Two years later he claimed the British Scottish Area bantamweight title after defeating Scott Allan via an eighth-round TKO.

In September the following year, Farooq scored a TKO victory 73 seconds into the first round against Jamie Wilson - becoming the first Scottish boxer to capture the British bantamweight title.

The boxer went onto defend his title against Iain Butcher, Kyle Williams and Duane Winters, before challenging Commonwealth bantamweight champion Lee McGregor in November 2019.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Farooq suffered a controversial defeat via split decision which many believed he should have claimed the victory.

What next?

The 26-year-old was last in action in August 2021 and was set to take on Lee McGregor in a highly anticipated rematch at some point this year.

Following his retirement it was revealed tht Farooq will remain in boxing and take up the role of Head of Talent for the St Andrew’s Sporting Club.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.