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The Khan of Khans
By Mike C Ryan
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Amir Khan is
to be paid 280,000 English pounds to stay amateur.
Hard to swallow? The amazing
news aired in the official website of the Amateur
Boxing Association of England. It said the deal
would be finalised this Friday.
Providing Amir boxed amateur
until Beijing 2008, he would receive the fortune
spread over the four years, with £10,000
a year going towards the 17 year old's education.
FOL readers know Amir Khan,
17. He won the silver medal in Athens against
repeat Olympic lightweight champion Mario Kindelan,33.
Imran Khan the famous cricketer
decorates women's magazine covers.
Amir Khan addressed the British Labour Party
conference in Brighton. He was named ambassador
for the "London for 2112 Olympics"
* bid.
The British Boxing Writers
Club is 53 years old. It just named Khan Young
Boxer of the Year - the only amateur ever.
Amateur boxing's fantastic
offer came after promoter Frank Warren was reported
to be meeting Amir Khan's manager, Asif Vali,
to lure Amir professional.
The ABA website quoted schoolboy
Khan: "No, the future is definitely Beijing.
I want that gold medal! I'm staying amateur
and not turning pro."
The organisation depends on
Khan to pack out the London arena and bring
the media swarm, when England boxes the United
States on 29 November. But can America find
a lightweight willing?
Bendigo (Victoria) was hoping
Amir would attend the Youth Commonwealth Games
in that same week. No takers.
Khan and Hoyne
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The first Australia heard
about Amir Khan was John Hoyne's enthusiastic
report from Korea on this website. (See
'Amazing Amir' in, Korea Kids. July archive).
The Aussie team manager praised
the kid to England coach, Chris Edmunds. Chris
took his camera and lined up Hoyne with 'Kid'
Khan.
What a smile the boxing prodigy
with the Pakistani background displays.
You can't help thinking of
Cassius Clay.
* "London
for 2112" is vieing with "New York
for 2112" Olympics bid. Wonderful setting,
either. See you there!
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