Amir Khan's trainer hits out

[MightyWarrior]

Khan is Britain's youngest Olympic boxer since 1976

From the BBC -

Khan's trainer hits out
By Ben Dirs

The trainer of Amir Khan, Britain's sole Olympic boxing representative, has told BBC Sport of his anger at being frozen out of his charge's corner
Mick Jelley has handled the 17-year-old Khan for five years but will not be by his side in Athens.
Terry Edwards, head coach of the British amateur boxing team, will be in Khan's corner instead.
"He's my lad, it's been all my hard work but someone's come along and said 'I'm going to the ball'," said Jelley.

Jelley, of Bury Amateur Boxing Club, first starting coaching Khan when the Bolton lightweight was 11.
Under Jelley's tutelage, Khan has won gold at the Junior Olympics and European and world junior championships.
"My 40 years of training lads from all ages and all different nationalities would have come to a climax on 12 August - the Olympic Games," added Jelley. The person who's been looking after the kid, taking him everywhere in the world, doesn't get a piece of the cream cake
"I want something at the end of the day. I don't want money, I just want to get into that corner.

"But Mr Edwards is going to be in the corner while I'm sat 50 rows back. I've been his coach for the last five years but I'll never go in his corner again.
"All I'm doing now is answering telephones and talking to the press. I've not seen him for the last five weeks - my input has gone right out of it.
"Five years ago, before the Lottery funding started, there'd be five people in the country looking after the English team.
"Now you've got 85 people, all on wages, while the person who's been looking after the kid, taking him everywhere in the world, doesn't get a piece of the cream cake - he's left out.
"After the Olympics, I'm going to get a meeting with the Sports Minister and tell him what's going wrong with this sport because there's a lot going wrong and there's a lot of people who feel like I do."

[jamesmcdonnell]

Sadly, this appears to be part of the nature of the amateur sport. When it comes to olympic competition, then the fighters come under the auspices of 'world class' which is the lottery funded body which actually receives the monies and whose trainers are appointed to trian the fighters.

Surely this cannot be good for the fighters, having a switch of trainers, and surely there should be more reward for the trainer who brought the fighter along.

[MightyWarrior]

Yeah our amateur "system" seems all over the place doesn't it. Just look at the numbers we're sending out - ONE. Says it all really.

I wonder what Khan thinks about it, I doubt he's too happy. Hope he doesn't let it get to him, because he sounds like the real deal.

I heard him say he's mainly focused on the 2008 games - which seems odd. Perhaps he's just trying to deflect the mounting pressure. I doubt he'll be able to resist turning pro till then, with all the cash that's going to be thrown at him.

[Matchfixer]

Why does this happen?

If so many more people are getting involved it means more money. Surely Khan should be left with his original trainer and the money could be spent on other things.

[black panther]

I have to say the amateur game as a whole is a bit messed up... all politics. Did u see the recent EU championships on eurosport - some disgraceful hometown decisions.

[Southpaw Stylist]

Amir's on ringside on Thursday.

[MightyWarrior]

BBC -
Britain's sole Olympic boxer Amir Khan says controversy over his coaching situation has not unduly upset his preparations for the Athens Games.

Last week, Khan's domestic trainer Mick Jelley told of his anger at being frozen out of his charge's corner. "It's a shame - I think I would have done better if Mick was in my corner," Khan told BBC Five Live.

"But I've got a good team behind me and I'm capable of getting a medal with them supporting me."
Olympic rules stipulate the British team are only allowed one designated coach. And Terry Edwards, head coach of the British amateur boxing team, will be in Khan's corner in August.

"Mick can't come in my corner in the Olympics because he's a domestic coach," said Khan. "It's the biggest tournament I'm going to be in so he was a bit upset and so was I. But he'll be in Athens and hopefully I'll see him before I go in the ring."
And the 17-year-old lightweight hope said he is happy with the new man in charge.
"I've been working with Terry since last December. I've got to know him well - he's been in my corner in a few championships and (Olympic) qualifying. He knows my style, he knows what I can do, so I'm comfortable with him in the corner. I'm with the training squad now and he's with me and everything's going all right."

Edwards was also in charge of Britain's two fighters at Sydney 2000, despite the fact both Audley Harrison and Courtney Fry were trained by Tony Burns of Repton Boxing Club.

In his way will be -

Mario Kindelan


The Cuban has repeatedly set the standard in amateur lightweight boxing.
He was unbeatable in the build-up to the Syndey Olympics and that solid form carried him through to the gold medal after defeating Ukrainian Andriy Kotelnyk in the final bout.
At 33 years of age, he is up to 16 years older than some of the rivals in the category in Athens but to date that seems to have proved little barrier.
In a recent pre-Olympic tournament in Peristeri, just outside the Greek capital, he ended the competition hopes of Britain's only Olympic qualifier -Amir Khan.
His downfall, however, could be his arrogance.
Four years ago, he started to taunt Kotelnyk - his Olympic final opponent - when his corner made it aware he was on course for a comfortable win. It almost cost him the title.

[Freiheit]

Btw Andriy Kotelnyk is in the pro ranks known as Andreas Kotelnik and Universum have to much, or little?, confidence in him that they are sending him to Australia to meet N'Dou

[jamesmcdonnell]

Why does this happen?

If so many more people are getting involved it means more money. Surely Khan should be left with his original trainer and the money could be spent on other things.

The thing is, part of the stipulation of receiving lottery funding, was the establishment of the 'world class' programme, which works toward olympic qualification. This means that the 'elite' amateurs are forced through an 'elite' system, taking them out of their usual training centres.

Ian Irwin himself, (head coach and performance director) admits himself this isn't ideal, but that's the way it has to be for them to receive lottery funding. They won't be getting much next year, as they only got 1 lad through to the olympics.

[knockout]

Khan was getting £1200 a month wasnt he????

[Southpaw Stylist]

750 a month. B class funding.