Amir Khan launches Global Fighters’ Union to improve safety standards, secure better pay for fighters and increase retirement benefits as he urges broadcaster to support ‘the new PFA of combat sports’

Former two-weight world champion Amir Khan has co-founded the Global Fighters’ Union (GFU) to tackle long-standing issues in combat sports, building on his own experiences in a career spanning more than two decades.

The GFU, which will officially launch in January 2025, aims to improve safety standards, secure better wages and benefits for fighters, and provide much-needed support structures in a largely unregulated industry.

Khan’s boxing journey highlights the challenges he wants to take on. From dealing with contract disputes to dealing with injuries and the uncertainties surrounding retirement, he recognizes the lack of institutional support for fighters.

Reflecting on his career, which has seen him unify world light-welterweight titles and take on legends such as Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford, Khan admitted that many fighters are left to fend for themselves both inside and outside the ring.

“There has to be an organization that is above everything else,” Khan said. “We’ve all had problems: in training, before fights, after fights, at weigh-ins, on contracts, during retirement. We cannot turn to promoters or regulatory bodies for so many issues.

“So if we can turn to the Global Fighters’ Union for help and get it from people who have been there and done it, not just between the ropes, but in the unions, in politics, in the law, in the media and in education, that will be a huge positive change for everyone in our sport’.

The GFU is calling on broadcasters to adopt a model similar to the partnership between the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) and football leagues, with a portion of broadcast revenue being spent on player welfare and grassroots development.

By ensuring funds are spent on health programs, legal support and post-career transitions, the GFU aims to provide fighters with protections comparable to athletes in other sports.

This will be achieved through the ‘Fair Fight’ initiative, which focuses on securing fair and transparent contracts, ensuring minimum wage guarantees and advocating for fair distribution of income.

Funds will also support combatant safety, with investments in medical assessments, advanced protection measures and comprehensive health and wellness programs, including mental health and rehabilitation support.

In addition, the Union will use these funds to combat discrimination in the workplace, protect the image rights of fighters and support post-career transition through education and career development opportunities.

Speaking ahead of the launch of GFU, Paul Smith, former champion and co-founder, said: ‘We laid the foundations for the GFU to become a recognized trade union in 2024 and we will officially launch it one year after we set out our plans announced to build it.

“By 2024, our team, structure and goals have all been established, and we will start the process of change in combat sports with a list of actions for the first year to be published shortly.

“It is the right time for a new organization committed to improving martial arts activities at all levels, and we are grateful for all the support that has gotten us to this point.”

Paul Maloney, former leader of the GMB Union South and co-founder of the GFU, added: ‘The GFU will prioritize achieving equality for its members in relation to funding packages provided by other sports rights owners to the unions representing their athletes.

“There is no place in modern sport for a landscape where the workplace rights of footballers and other athletes are denied to combat sports participants.”