He’s the former unified light-welterweight world champion, having held the WBA title from 2009 to 2012 as well a the IBF title in 2011.
But despite his tough reputation, Amir Khan pulled out of his Bushtucker Trial on Monday morning, shocking his fellow campmates when he admitted he was ‘terrified of snakes’.
However after pictures surfaced showing the boxer, 30, posing with a huge yellow python in a nightclub back in 2011, fans accused him of faking his fear.
‘I remember him being scared’: After pictures surfaced showing the boxer, 30, posing with a huge yellow python in a nightclub, fans accused him of faking his fear- something the handler in the snap has denied
No match: Despite his tough reputation, Amir Khan pulled out of his Bushtucker Trial on Monday morning, shocking his fellow campmates when he admitted he was ‘terrified of snakes’
The father-of-one looks relaxed as he stands next to the club hostess holding the sizable reptile, showing no sign of a phobia.
However Georgie Leahy, the woman who owns albino Burmese python Slinky which appeared on the 2011 series of Britain’s Got Talent, has confirmed Amir was in fact scared of the creature.
‘I remember him being a bit scared of Slinky, and one of the guys was like, no, do it, you’ve got to get a picture,’ she told The Mirror.
‘I do remember he was scared – he doesn’t look it in the picture. You can tell Slinky really likes him because he’s got his tongue out. Slinky was really excited to meet him. Most of the time because Slinky loves me so much he’d come back to me, but in this picture he’s going right for Amir!’
As the snaps emerged, fans streamed to Twitter to accuse the boxer of faking his fear for airtime.
‘Yep, really scared’, one follower joked, while another added: ‘Me thinks Amir has watched I’m A Celeb a lot and is playing a character to get airtime’.
‘I think Amir is playing a game’, another added, while one wrote: ‘He ain’t that scared lads! Messer!’
MailOnline has contacted Amir’s representatives for comment.
‘Yep, really scared’: As the snaps emerged, fans streamed to Twitter to accuse the boxer of faking his fear for airtime
On Monday the British champion was forced to leave the camp without food as he pulled out of his trial after failing to face his fears of the snake-filled pit.
Amir left his camp mates in shock on Monday night as he said ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’ during the first Bush Tucker Trial.
The boxer gave up on the challenge after being faced with his biggest fear, snakes – therefore leaving the entire camp without food for 24 hours.
While he admitted he had been ‘terrified’, his partner in crime Georgia ‘Toff’ Toffolo was furious with his actions, later telling camp: ‘I could actually cry’.
Not so tough: Amir left his camp mates in shock on Monday night as he said ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’ during the first Bush Tucker Trial
The pair embarked on the challenge at the start of the episode – which took place underground in a giant termites nest.
One contestant was locked in a dark chamber, while the other had to make their way around the nest and find 8 different keys attached to numbered disks.
The eight keys could then be used to undo the padlocks on the door of the chamber and rescue the other celebrity.
Terrified: The 30-year-old gave up on the challenge after being faced with his biggest fear, snakes – therefore leaving the entire camp without food for 24 hours
Horrified: As the trial began, a terrified Toff shrieked as cockroaches were tipped all over her, while Amir began to struggle against a corridor full of maggots
The duo had ten minutes to complete the trial – otherwise the whole camp will be subject to another night of rice and beans.
The blonde beauty confessed she felt Amir would be better rescuing her as he was ‘more capable’ than her, so she agreed to be locked in.
As the trial began, a terrified Amir began to struggle against a corridor full of maggots, but comes to a full stop when he faces a hole of snakes – admitting: ‘I’m scared, I can’t do this man.’
‘I can’t do this man’: Things soon went awry for the boxer however when he was faced with a box of snakes
Gone wrong: However, as he tried to pull out the key from the hole, he ended up pulling out the snake itself – causing him to freak out, while Ant and Dec laughed in shock
However, as he tried to pull out the key from the hole, he ended up pulling out the snake itself – causing him to freak out, while Ant and Dec laughed in shock.
Scrambling desperately down the tunnel, Amir admitted: ‘I can’t do it, I’m sorry’, and shouted: ‘I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!
A clearly unimpressed Toff however immediately whined: ‘Why did you say that?! We’re not going to eat!’
Disbelief: Scrambling desperately down the tunnel, Amir admitted: ‘I can’t do it, I’m sorry’, and shouted: ‘I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!
Justifying his decision, the former world champion said sadly after emerging from the tunnel: ‘This was my first Trial, I thought you’d take it easy on me, I’m scared of snakes.
Before adding sheepishly: ‘I couldn’t take it, I just had to run! I’ve never screamed so much in my life – and I’ve been hit in the face!’
Realising Amir really didn’t know what he had signed up for, Ant laughed: ‘You really haven’t seen the show before have you? We don’t take it easy on you.’
As if! Justifying his decision, the former world champion said sadly after emerging from the tunnel: ‘This was my first Trial, I thought you’d take it easy on me, I’m scared of snakes’
Awkward: Realising Amir really didn’t know what he had signed up for, Ant laughed: ‘You really haven’t seen the show before have you? We don’t take it easy on you’
Not happy: Not a fan: Amir later added sheepishly to the hosts: ‘I couldn’t take it, I just had to run! I’ve never screamed so much in my life – and I’ve been hit in the face!’
However, Toff was clearly unimpressed with his decision, simply adding: ‘I thought you were going to smash it.’
Later on away from Amir, the blonde vented her frustrations at his sacking of the challenge.
She said: ‘I’m really upset and really shocked he said it. There’s no way I was leaving! Everyone else has got to eat rice and beans now and its horrible, as half of them haven’t had a good breakfast.’
Shocked: However, Toff was clearly unimpressed with his decision, simply adding: ‘I thought you were going to smash it
Certain: She confessed later on: ‘I’m really upset and really shocked he said it. There’s no way I was leaving!’
While Amir continued to justify his decision by stating: ‘They’re going to be upset, as I know how hard it is to eat just rice and beans.
‘I feel bad for the team because I really wanted to get some meal tickets but I just had to give up, it got so hard.’
Upon their return to camp, Jamie Lomas began to laugh at the story – and admitted he didn’t believe the pair.
What have I done: While Amir continued to justify his decision by stating: ‘I feel bad for the team because I really wanted to get some meal tickets but I just had to give up, it got so hard’
However Toff, who became quite emotional, later snapped when back in camp: ‘Have you not seen me? I’m devastated. I could actually cry’
A taken aback Jamie proceeded to express his shock in the Bush Telegraph, and revealed he had not expected Amir to be so terrified as a boxer and supposed ‘tough guy.’
‘I am gobsmacked!’ he said. ‘I never thought Amir Khan, who fights for a living, would be shouting i’m a celebrity, but it turns out he said those dreaded words. He must be petrified of snakes!’
Amir had already caused a stir among viewers earlier on, when he admitted he did not know what a ‘critter’ was – which Toff deemed ‘alarming’.
‘Devastated’: Toff, who became quite emotional, later snapped when back in camp: ‘Have you not seen me? I’m devastated. I could actually cry’
Viewers immediately took to Twitter to express their hilarity, and question whether he had been hit in the head too many times in the ring.
One kicked things off by writing: ‘Amir Khan is literally as thick as fudge’ while another questioned: ‘Not being funny but how many blows to the head has Amir Khan had because he’s coming across pretty thick!’
Further fans pondered: ‘Is Amir actually okay or has boxing knocked out every brain cell?’, ‘Amir isnt the sharpest tool in the shed is he?’ and ‘Amir Khan can’t really be that stupid can he? ‘What’s a critter?”
Confused: Amir had caused a stir among fans earlier on the episode, when he admitted he didn’t know what a critter was
‘Is he ok?’: Viewers immediately took to Twitter to express their hilarity, and question whether he had been hit in the head too many times in the ring
While others vented their shock at his ‘lack of knowledge’, writing: ‘Amir is so illiterate it hurts my ears listening to him talk’ and the simple play on words, ‘Amir Khan’t.’
However, a number of viewers were quick to praise the boxer – and claim his ‘daft’ nature only added comedy value to the show.
One wrote: ‘Oh my gosh Amir has me in stitches already and it’s only gone on to the ad break’ as another agreed: ‘Amir is a comedy genius!’
While others chimed in: ‘Amir Khan is a gift that keeps on giving’ and ‘Amir is hilarious, without actually trying or knowing. Lad is so daft.’
Comedy value: However, a number of viewers were quick to praise the boxer – and claim his ‘daft’ nature only added comedy value to the show
Milling around: The episode also saw the contestants get used to their outdoor surroundings in camp
The episode also saw the contestants get used to their outdoor surroundings in camp.
While the boys discovered this year’s camp even featured a bath, a usually glamorous Toff admitted she absolutely ‘stank’ after just 24 hours in the outback.
She revealed with a laugh, as she enjoyed her first jungle shower: ‘My pits are actually unbearable. I stink!’
Dennis, Jennie and Becky later embarked on the first Dingo Dollar challenge, which saw them faced with a giant roulette wheel.
Making a move: Dennis, Jennie and Becky later embarked on the first Dingo Dollar challenge, which saw them faced with a giant roulette wheel
If they landed on the ‘win’ section with their spin, a light would come on. However if they spun into the black section, the other two contestants would be dunked in a pool of freezing cold and grubby water.
‘It’s kind of pot luck spinning a wheel isn’t it?’ Jenny observed, before joking: ‘Give it a big spin and hope for the best. I think its called roulette. I think it’s called a mugs game.’
However, after a long afternoon plunging in and out of the water, the trio finally lit up all three lights, and were given access to the coveted Dingo Dollars.
Taking their currency to the shop, the trio then had to ask camp a trivia question, in order to win a treat of tea and biscuits.
Piece of cake! They successfully completed the challenge and returned with a selection of biscuits for camp (above)
The question was: ‘What percentage of British people, would rather have a cup of tea and a biscuit, than go out on a date? 83% or 67%.’
Shappi immediately felt the higher and almost everyone agreed, but Amir was sure the number was too low.
However, the boxer was proved to be wrong – and the challengers excitedly returned to camp with the treats in hand.
Vanessa said with delight: ‘That was the BEST biscuit I have ever had’ while Toff added: ‘It’s amazing how much pleasure can come from a small biscuit.’
Unfortunately for camp, Amir was then voted to do the next Bush Tucker trial, which will air on Tuesday night’s episode.
Round two: Unfortunately for camp, Amir was then voted to do the next Bush Tucker trial, which will air on Tuesday night’s episode