BoxRec

Has anyone seen this kid fight?
And if you have, Opinions?

This kid Khan be the best
By COLIN HART

AMIR KHAN returned to his Bury home this week with another gold medal hanging from his neck — and the usual superlatives ringing in his ears.


Khan was crowned European student lightweight champion in Rome — and the 16-year-old now hasn’t lost a bout for three years.

In 2003, he has also won the European cadets title in Lithuania and was named that tournament’s best boxer.

But more importantly he claimed the Olympic junior championship in Louisiana.

Since he started boxing competitively at the age of 11, Khan has collected more than 70 trophies.

Not bad for a kid still 18 days short of his 17th birthday.

Amazing Amir gets rave reviews wherever he appears and it will surprise no one to learn professional promoters and managers are salivating at the thought of signing him.

Though I have never seen him in action, those who have say he is a much better prospect than Naseem Hamed was at the same age.

Paul King, the ABA’s Director of Development, has been monitoring Khan’s progress for six years.

King said: “Amir’s achievement has surpassed what any 16 or 17-year-old British boxer has ever done.

“I have never seen any kid with such an eye for a shot — Hamed is the only other one who comes close.”

Khan, who comes from a close-knit, middle-class family, was an extremely hyperactive child.

In an attempt to quieten him down his businessman father Shajaad took him along to Bury Amateur Boxing Club when he was eight.

Mike Jelly, the coach, admitted: “I have never seen anyone as versatile.

“He can box and he can fight — and has got everything it takes to be a champion.

“Finding a kid who has the complete package is hard. It is difficult to find a weakness. If he has one, nobody has found it yet.”

Jelly knows how dangerous it is to overpraise someone as young as Amir as it is possible he will not develop further as he approaches adulthood.

Jelly added: “We must be cautious about the future because there is still such a long way to go.”

Amir seems mature for his age and has confidence in his ability to get to the top as an amateur and a pro.

When I spoke to him on his return from Italy, he said: “My plan is to go to next year’s Olympics in Athens, then the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006 and turn professional when I’m 19.”

Olympic rules allow 17-year-olds to enter boxing but Khan knows he is facing a serious problems where Athens is concerned.

The ABA’s regulations forbid youngsters to compete at senior level until they are 18.

Amir and his father plan to have talks with ABA officials to try to persuade them to back down so he can take part in the qualifying contests that begin in February.

He has set his heart on going to Athens and has a trump card to play that is bound to focus ABA minds.

Because of his family background, Khan is also eligible to represent Pakistan.

And Pakistani sports authorities have made it clear if Britain say ‘no Khan do’ they will grab him for their team.

It would of course be much more sensible and a great deal safer if Khan put his Olympic dream on hold until Beijing in 2008 when he will be a man.

Spoke to george bowers in the peacock about him. Bowers is old school been around the game like 60 years and trained over 100 school boy champs. He says Khan is definately one of the best fighters he has ever seen.
He knocks guys out with either hand, which as a school boy is tremendous..

knockout wrote:Spoke to george bowers in the peacock about him. Bowers is old school been around the game like 60 years and trained over 100 school boy champs. He says Khan is definately one of the best fighters he has ever seen.
He knocks guys out with either hand, which as a school boy is tremendous..

Good post, Knockout. Will have to keep a close eye on this Khan.

Those Pakistanis can keep their thieving mits off him as well

knockout wrote:Spoke to george bowers in the peacock about him. Bowers is old school been around the game like 60 years and trained over 100 school boy champs. He says Khan is definately one of the best fighters he has ever seen.
He knocks guys out with either hand, which as a school boy is tremendous..

sorry George has apparently trained over 150 national champions according to this article from 2ndsout.co.uk, so the guy knows his stuff lol

:Kids made to pay

England's schoolboy boxers were all smiles as they flew to Russia on Saturday, despite having to pay £200 each for the trip. "The Chancellor seems to be throwing money everywhere else, but the Schools' Amateur Boxing Association is almost broke," said long-time treasurer Eddie Blow.

George Bowers, legendary trainer of 150 national champions, added: "Diabolical! Well-behaved kids having to pay to represent their country."

However, the squad was given a boost just before take-off when Commonwealth welterweight champion Scott Dixon, who defends his title against Darren Bruce at Brentwood on August 19, donated £1,000

Yea he's very good, but he still hasn't fought any men yet. When he gets matched for strength we'll see then.

Southpaw Stylist wrote:Yea he's very good, but he still hasn't fought any men yet. When he gets matched for strength we'll see then.

Exactly, let's not get carried away yet, he's been knocking out 16-year-olds, I'll reserve judgement 'till he's mixed it with the likes of Stephen Burke and Michael Grant. Athens has come two years too soon for the kid.

If he went to Athens, he might wind up fighting Mario Kindelan, who is a phenom.

I gather his first the other week was called off over a dispute at the weigh in? All sounds a bit odd.

Apparnetly his opponent weighed in a day early, and then refused to weigh in again on the day Khan arrived for the bout. Apparently Khan wanted to fight anyway, but his trainer refused to put him in.

I'm sure he'd have whipped his opponent, but his team are taking no chances with him.

Sorry, I meant "fight", not "first" :)

Chambers wrote:Those Pakistanis can keep their thieving mits off him as well

Although they can have Haider Ali back of course.

What happened to Haider Ali anyway. Is he still a FW-SN fighter?
I remember he got homesick or something and went back home didn't he?
Man, he got a lot of hype of Warren when he signed. (poor lad).

There was a feature in Boxing news about him recently and he said he was relishing facing Kindelan and felt he would win, of course it's probably talk as Kindelan is exceptional. But still the future is bright for this guy who said he will be fighting for Britain as it is home for him so no fear Chambers 8)

steve689 wrote:There was a feature in Boxing news about him recently and he said he was relishing facing Kindelan and felt he would win, of course it's probably talk as Kindelan is exceptional. But still the future is bright for this guy who said he will be fighting for Britain as it is home for him so no fear Chambers 8)

If he loses he is on the first plane to Karachi

Scott Harrison is British when he wins and Scottish when he loses

Chambers wrote:

steve689 wrote:There was a feature in Boxing news about him recently and he said he was relishing facing Kindelan and felt he would win, of course it's probably talk as Kindelan is exceptional. But still the future is bright for this guy who said he will be fighting for Britain as it is home for him so no fear Chambers 8)

If he loses he is on the first plane to Karachi

Scott Harrison is British when he wins and Scottish when he loses

I know what you're getting at, but I disagree.

Why is Lennox always British, but Calzaghe always 'Welsh'?

Why was Damon Hill always British, but Coulthard always 'Scottish'
(same with Colin McCrae).

The Celts are always flag waving in peoples faces when they win something...but it seems like its against the law or something to be English. If you're English you have to be 'British'....

Loftgroov wrote:

Chambers wrote:

steve689 wrote:There was a feature in Boxing news about him recently and he said he was relishing facing Kindelan and felt he would win, of course it's probably talk as Kindelan is exceptional. But still the future is bright for this guy who said he will be fighting for Britain as it is home for him so no fear Chambers 8)

If he loses he is on the first plane to Karachi

Scott Harrison is British when he wins and Scottish when he loses

I know what you're getting at, but I disagree.

Why is Lennox always British, but Calzaghe always 'Welsh'?

Why was Damon Hill always British, but Coulthard always 'Scottish'
(same with Colin McCrae).

The Celts are always flag waving in peoples faces when they win something...but it seems like its against the law or something to be English. If you're English you have to be 'British'....

I fully agree.

I spent 2 years at uni in Wales (Aberystwyth) and I don't think I heard the word 'British' said once and you see plenty of Welsh Dragon flags, but no Union flags. Since I left uni I always refer to myself as English.
I went to Dublin (with a load of taffs) to get pissed in the pubs while the 5 nations game was on between Wales and Ireland. All the Welsh in the pubs would sing their Welsh songs (Bread of Heaven etc) then the Paddys would have their turn and then they would all join in together to sing their anti-English songs, I felt about as popular as a ginger haired step-son,


I see the Welsh and Scottish's relationship with the English as being like one of big and little brother, there is plenty of playful fighting, but deep down we love each other deeply........it is just them damned frogs I can't be doing with


I'M ENGLISH AND PROUD

God save our gracious Queen
Long live our noble Queen
God save our Queen
[de ne ne ne]
Send her victorious
Happy and glorious
Long to reign over us
God save our Queen

I feel better now

Chambers wrote:

Loftgroov wrote:

Chambers wrote: If he loses he is on the first plane to Karachi

Scott Harrison is British when he wins and Scottish when he loses

I know what you're getting at, but I disagree.

Why is Lennox always British, but Calzaghe always 'Welsh'?

Why was Damon Hill always British, but Coulthard always 'Scottish'
(same with Colin McCrae).

The Celts are always flag waving in peoples faces when they win something...but it seems like its against the law or something to be English. If you're English you have to be 'British'....

I fully agree.

I spent 2 years at uni in Wales (Aberystwyth) and I don't think I heard the word 'British' said once and you see plenty of Welsh Dragon flags, but no Union flags. Since I left uni I always refer to myself as English.
I went to Dublin (with a load of taffs) to get pissed in the pubs while the 5 nations game was on between Wales and Ireland. All the Welsh in the pubs would sing their Welsh songs (Bread of Heaven etc) then the Paddys would have their turn and then they would all join in together to sing their anti-English songs, I felt about as popular as a ginger haired step-son,


I see the Welsh and Scottish's relationship with the English as being like one of big and little brother, there is plenty of playful fighting, but deep down we love each other deeply........it is just them damned frogs I can't be doing with


I'M ENGLISH AND PROUD

God save our gracious Queen
Long live our noble Queen
God save our Queen
[de ne ne ne]
Send her victorious
Happy and glorious
Long to reign over us
God save our Queen

I feel better now

Yes, the English are very hard done by aren't they.

Don't blame us if the mongrel English have no national cultural identity.

I spent 3 years at University in Swansea, so know how you feel.

Deep down...the Welsh HATE, not love the English. I assure you.

The banter covers the hate, not the like.

Loftgroov wrote:I spent 3 years at University in Swansea, so know how you feel.

Deep down...the Welsh HATE, not love the English. I assure you.

The banter covers the hate, not the like.

Don't necessarily agree, but have you ever asked yourself why?

Incidentally, even the Welsh accept that Swansea is a dreadful place!!

I know the reason why.

'An inferiority complex'

I thought for a while it was merely historical, but it was so long ago, and so many wars affecting Wales/Britain have occured since, that surely there is more to it. There is.

Wales is, with all respect, a crap country. It's characterised by high unemployment in many areas, nationally they never win anything, and all in all its a bit shite compared with England. A Welsh person would never admit this, but deep down they know it to be true.

This inferiority complex breeds resentment, which in turn breeds hatred.

Quite simply really.

Most Welsh don't know WHY they hate the English. they JUST DO. It's been bread into them over years of the inferiority complex towards their big neighbour.

Loftgroov wrote:I know the reason why.

'An inferiority complex'

I thought for a while it was merely historical, but it was so long ago, and so many wars affecting Wales/Britain have occured since, that surely there is more to it. There is.

Wales is, with all respect, a crap country. It's characterised by high unemployment in many areas, nationally they never win anything, and all in all its a bit shite compared with England. A Welsh person would never admit this, but deep down they know it to be true.

This inferiority complex breeds resentment, which in turn breeds hatred.

Quite simply really.

Most Welsh don't know WHY they hate the English. they JUST DO. It's been bread into them over years of the inferiority complex towards their big neighbour.

Nice.

Hard to imagine that you didn't get on well with the Welsh during your time at Uni - you seem so charming.

I'll tell you a true story.

My grandfather (Gerwyn Evans) told me about his time at junior school in Penrhiwceiber - near Aberdare. (Straight-forward mining community etc.) When he arrived at the school as afive year old he spoke only one language - Welsh.

Anyone speaking their own language was punished, including five year olds, and my grandfather (even at the age of 91, when he died) still remembered having the big iron key to the school gates hung around his neck on a chain to show every one else that he had been heard speaking Welsh.

Saddest of all is that he remebered being ashamed of himself!?

I tend to feel that the English (sorry for the enormous generalisation) are more comfortable with let's say, historical crimes against the Australian Aboriginals than they are with similar treatment of fellow "british" within living memory.

Lugh wrote:

Loftgroov wrote:I spent 3 years at University in Swansea, so know how you feel.

Deep down...the Welsh HATE, not love the English. I assure you.

The banter covers the hate, not the like.

Don't necessarily agree, but have you ever asked yourself why?

Incidentally, even the Welsh accept that Swansea is a dreadful place!!

I do appreciate that living in the big city of Swansea is alot different to living in the nice town of Aberystwyth and I would imagine your experience with the locals was alot different to mine

You do get a large number of the Welsh that Hate the English as a nation, due to the thousands of years of oppression that we have put them under (Owen Glendower etc. what that has got to do with the current English nation I do not know, I don't hate the Romans or the Vikings ) but I know a number of Welsh people who are realistic and they know that if Wales was not part of Britain and relied purely on providing their own income they would not be as well off as they are now.

...and Robin Reid was robbed against Calzaghe

PEACE

Chambers wrote:You do get a large number of the Welsh that Hate the English as a nation, due to the thousands of years of oppression that we have put them under

Case rests your honour.

The comfortable perception "what's wrong with them? It was hundreds of years ago."

I personally don't think that the majority of Welsh hate the English - I just think you lot remember all of your experiences on a six nations match day very clearly and like all good English you say:

"Why don't they like us? We are English!"

For what it's worth I studied in London and can shock you with this newsflash - its not exactly a great big love fest coming our way when watching Wales - England in a London pub!

I have to commend the English sense of humour - so many brilliant sheep jokes.

We (the Welsh) are a patriotic country and we are proud of our heritage. If I went to an English Uni and so a pile of the George Cross flags I would think anything bad against them. Supporting your own, doesn't make you a racist or a hater.

The Welsh are proud of our achievements and proud of the fact that we are a little country that has suffered from poverty. What we dislike is the upper crust of the English population. As Gary Delaney would say "it gets right up our noses". We don't hate the English as a whole, but we do HATE certain aspects of certain English people. Thats why we don't like the English Rugby team, its not because we are jeleous - because we have ALWAYS disliked them (when we used to hammer you everyyear). Its becuase most are upper class public school boys, that go completely against the grain of Welsh society, who have had to fight just earn a crust.

If you check up your Welsh history, you'll know that from the 19th Century, we have rioted in the mines of Merthyr and the riots were against the owners of the mines who treated their workers very poorly, while they lead the life of the gentry - they were also the JP's of the area, so nothing could be done legally to stop the harsh treatment.

The Rebecca Riots started because of the Welsh peoples dispute with the contested rising of toll gate prices, who were in charge of this - the posh English folk.

We don't like the monachy, we just feel their keeping our hard earned money just for sitting on their behinds and doing nothing. We don't like the Rugby team, because traditionally they are from middle class backgrounds. I don't think there is anything/body else we don't like about the English. The fact that your anthem is horrible, you are asking the lord to save the life of one lazy person - what type of anthem is that, might also contribute to the ill feeling. Land of hope and glory is fine.

Thats the thing that makes me laugh though;

"The English have oppressed the Welsh for thousands of years"

Ok....

Now, "The English" have only been around for 1000 years, slightly less, and indeed they were Normans back then, not from the land of England... anyway.

Why is it that Welsh racism towards the English is perfectly ok, but its not allowed in return? Idiots like Max Boyce singing anti-English songs, or indeed the Stereophonics = perfectly ok...so it seems.

Where is an "English style Max Boyce" ripping it into the Welsh then? Oh yeah...there isn't one. We don't feel the need. Where are our anti-Welsh songs? I can't think of one.... probably aren't any.....

This is my point.

So if England built a Berlin Wall style arrangements, and said ...litterally..."Seeya Wales, you go it alone then" ...Have you any idea how poor Wales would be? It would be like Albania.

Wales survives (economically) because of England (this isn't a view, this is a FACT).

So whilst your grandfathers experince admittedly doesn't sound too pleasant, did he ever figure that much of what he ate, or the job that he had, the house & income....he might well NOT have had without an English hand in there somewhere?

Loftgroov wrote: Where is an "English style Max Boyce" ripping it into the Welsh then?

Anne Robinson