Shah takes dig at McCracken - of freezing out Haroon

[whiskey]

http://www.sportinglife.com/boxing/news ... 85700.html

Great Britain performance director Rob McCracken has slammed suggestions by Haroon Khan's father Shah that the young boxer was frozen out of the national team set-up for political reasons.

Haroon, brother of British world champion Amir, made his Pakistan debut with a first-round win at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi on Tuesday and afterwards Shah claimed: "If one [Amir] does well, why should the other do well? - that's the thing that comes to my mind."

However, McCracken denied Haroon's non-selection was to do with anything other than performance, with the 19-year-old fighting at a weight which includes Khalid Yafai and European medallist Andrew Selby.

McCracken said: "Haroon boxes in a weight category where we have significant strength in depth and we felt that a number of boxers were ahead of him and had done more to merit inclusion in the Olympic squad.

"The record of these boxers in international competitions this year, which saw them win a silver medal and two bronzes at the European Championships in Moscow, indicates our judgement on this is correct.

"Haroon was on our radar and if he had performed well in competitions and shown significant progress he may have forced his way into contention for 2012. However, he has denied himself that opportunity by choosing to fight for Pakistan.

"To suggest our policy on selection is based on anything other than merit is wholly incorrect and ignores the fantastic performance of the Olympic boxing squad in international competitions in 2010."

Haroon is set to continue his Commonwealth Games medal quest on Thursday when he takes on Gilbert Bactora, of Mauritius. If he wins he will face one of GB podium squad members Selby or Tommy Stubbs in round three.

Meanwhile, England's success in the ring continued on the second day of the competition at the Talkatora Stadium with comfortable victories for Liverpool pair Tom Stalker and Callum Smith.

Lightweight Stalker, who won the European silver medal in Moscow earlier this year, beat Guyana's Clevon Rock 8-1 while Smith cruised to a 5-0 victory over Ritaiti Betero of Kiribati.

Stalker said afterwards: "I don't want to jinx myself but I feel I'm good enough to win the gold. There are good fighters in this division though and it's going to be a difficult one."

Welsh veteran Kevin Evans was made to regret his comeback after a four-year absence as he was beaten 11-2 by Samir El Mais of Canada. Another Welshman Darren Edwards was beaten 5-1 by impressive Scot Josh Taylor.

[whiskey]

Are the press making a meal of this ?

Then again, McCracken is not normally one for putting out statements either - so Shah must be shooting his mouth off his son wasn't chosen for the England team.

Khalid Yafai is apparently awesome according to some of the lads i know in the Sheffield set up, so if thats the case, it's poor of the Khan's to complain and demand Haroon gets the nod based on surname.

[SweetLikeSugar]

I think McCracken is 100% right. Haroon hasn't been the best performer in his weight class so why should he get a place in the team?

If one [Amir] does well, why should the other do well? - that's the thing that comes to my mind."

Out of all the arguments he could have made, this is the best he can come up with? Pfft.

[JamesH]

Are the press making a meal of this ?

Then again, McCracken is not normally one for putting out statements either - so Shah must be shooting his mouth off his son wasn't chosen for the England team.

Khalid Yafai is apparently awesome according to some of the lads i know in the Sheffield set up, so if thats the case, it's poor of the Khan's to complain and demand Haroon gets the nod based on surname.

Yafai is quality, felt sorry for him when he had to withdraw.

[Asterix]

Hopefully we'll see Pakistan vs GB to sort it out in the ring.

[jBacca]

Shah needs to shut up a little. Haroon isn't the best in the country, shown by national results, so why would he go?

[JamesH]

Come to think of it, I actually feel a bit sorry for Haroon on this one. He probably just wants to get on and fight, and for his Dad to stop having a whinge to anyone who'll listen.

[slapbangwhallop]

Hopefully we'll see Pakistan vs GB to sort it out in the ring.

Yes please - I think that it would be one Saturday as well which would be nice to sit back at home at watch it.

[reggaereggae]

The Khan family are startring to make themselves as dislikeable as the Hameds

[hitman_hatton1]

this khan-selby fight is getting juicier.

[stevek3lly]

this khan-selby fight is getting juicier.

Because of all the talk, I really hope he gets beat by Selby now. Haroon looked decent, but very wild and any decent boxer could just pick the points off against him on the counter. His accuracy was poor as well.

[hitman_hatton1]

this khan-selby fight is getting juicier.

Because of all the talk, I really hope he gets beat by Selby now. Haroon looked decent, but very wild and any decent boxer could just pick the points off against him on the counter. His accuracy was poor as well.

yeah a bit on the sloppy side.

[Pat Butcher]

The only quote in that article is, "If one [Amir] does well, why should the other do well? - that's the thing that comes to my mind."

Nothing much wrong there, was anything else said by his old man?

[greenyox3]

The Khan family are startring to make themselves as dislikeable as the Hameds

Agreed. Now Amir's tweeted "the English didn't select my brother but he's through to the quarters, and guess what the English guy's OUT".

Fair play to Harry, he may feel he's proven the selectors wrong, but this statement from big bro smacks of a lack of class. As someone said in an earlier post, Harry probably just wants to get on with it and is probably embarrassed by the statements his father/brother keep coming out with.

[Asterix]

The Khan family are startring to make themselves as dislikeable as the Hameds

Agreed. Now Amir's tweeted "the English didn't select my brother but he's through to the quarters, and guess what the English guy's OUT".

Fair play to Harry, he may feel he's proven the selectors wrong, but this statement from big bro smacks of a lack of class. As someone said in an earlier post, Harry probably just wants to get on with it and is probably embarrassed by the statements his father/brother keep coming out with.

None of them have seemed very classy to me when I've seen videos of them, Haroon included.

[SAPFO]

Amir Khan's father Shah rejects son's bigotry claim


Amir Khan's father has refuted his son's claims racism has prevented him from becoming a "superstar" in Britain.

Khan defends his WBA light-welterweight belt for the first time against Dmitriy Salita in Newcastle on Saturday.

But the 22-year-old insisted he has suffered from racial bigotry and said: "If I were a white English fighter maybe I'd have been a superstar."

However, Amir's father Shah told BBC Radio 5 live: "I don't agree with it. I don't know why he made those comments."

Khan has been booed in each of his three fights since being knocked out after just 54 seconds by Breidis Prescott last year - the only blemish on his 22-fight record.


He relocated to California to join Freddie Roach's stable following that defeat and bounced back in style, defeating legendary Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera before claiming Andreas Kotelnik's WBA belt in July.

But since then the Bolton-born Muslim has faced jeers by a small, but vocal, minority - most recently at an appearance as a guest at the recent Prizefighter tournament at London's ExCel Arena, which Khan put down to racial prejudice.

"It's probably jealousy but I can only say skin colour does make a difference," he said.

"If I were a white English fighter maybe I'd have been a superstar in Britain.

"I never get racist remarks but it's always out there which you can't stop. You just live and learn about what people are like. I just choose to ignore them.

"I went to the Olympic Games and won a medal for Britain and then won a world title for Britain but sometimes you don't see the appreciation.

"Straight after the Prescott fight, people said I was finished and racial remarks were made. But it made me come back stronger and a better fighter.

I'm proud to be British and it's a very small minority but it does hurt you and it pushes you all the way


"I'm proud to be British and it's a very small minority but it does hurt you and it pushes you all the way."

Khan's furious promoter allegedly, meanwhile, has criticised the media, accusing them of "playing on his naivety" in the pursuit of headlines.

"I'm really disappointed that people keep asking Amir these questions. We've managed to keep race and religion out of this fight and I find it offensive and sad," he said.

"People don't ask David Haye what it's like to be black. They don't ask Catholic fighters about the problems in Northern Ireland. When James Degale got booed, they didn't put it down to racism.

"Amir is 22 and perhaps they are playing on his naivety. It must play on Amir's mind - why are people asking me this all the time? It's totally unfair on Amir, and it is very disappointing."

Shah Khan believes his son is generally seen in a positive light and added: "I think the attention he gets now at this stage of his career is incredible.

"I think he is known all round not just in England but round the world.

"I think he is almost there anyway. He has got a long way to go yet and he is still young, he is only 22."

Proof he talks out his arse in bold


Further down, FW has a point. The media have wound him up. Khan has it in his head that white Brits don't like him.

[whiskey]

Amir is right when he say's Haroon is still in it, but Tommy drew Selby in the first leg which is a lot different to some of the guy's Haroon has fought who haven't looked as classy as the Welsh switch hitter.

At the time of Yafai's withdrawal, Haroon was already in the Pakistan vest - so it's not like he would have gotten the nod anyway.

The whole thing is p*ss poor of the Khans - Shah moaning and whinging when Yafai is meant to be miles better, then Amir twittering away about 'THE ENGLISH' ... as if he has an agenda with it. Yafai is of Yemen decent (i think) so sorry Amir, but that angle don't hold no credance.

The have been a few people whinging about Rob McCracken's choices, but he is a solid coach and is throwing open the doors to anyone to fight for their place on the squad - and if they haven't succeeded well who's to blame ?

If they had any PR sense whatsoever, they would have said publicly that the lad in the England vest is excellent and they have nno qualms about him being the first choice. But nonetheless would still like to participate under the Pakistan banner and who knows, maybe they meet in the ring. It would have been plain and simple, with a bit if sportsmanship / spice to it.

But no, they use a jack boot to crush an egg shell.

[josco]

Are Pakistan still in the Commonwealth? Thought they had been chucked out for some naughtiness.

[HomeOfBritishBoxing]

what a tit, mccraken is 100% right.