BoxRec

WARREN: AMIR SHOULD TURN PRO


Sports Network promoter allegedly has urged Olympic silver medallist Amir Khan to turn professional immediately and cash-in on his meteoric rise to fame.
The 17-year-old lightweight from Bolton sprung to prominence with some devastating performances in Athens and vowed to remain amongst the amateur ranks before attempting to go one better in Beijing in four years' time.

However, Warren warned the youngster: "You can't buy a house or feed your family with a gold medal," while adding: "He's got more chance of becoming a world champion at the age of 21 than he has of winning a gold medal."

Khan has enlisted a team of prominent sports lawyers and managers to help realise his dream of gold in Beijing, but they will be well aware of the fighter's marketability if he decided to trade in his headguard.

Asif Vali of Elite Sports Management, representing Khan, admitted the commercial interest in the prodigy has been phenomenal.

"Our intention is to make sure Amir can stay in the amateur game with enough funding to lead a comfortable life," he said.

"Everybody wants to be associated with Amir and things are happening fast. We will continue to have talks with the family in the coming weeks."

However, Warren countered: "He's a natural for the professional game. He's got good hand speed, he moves well and I think that as a fight goes on he'll get stronger. That's why I think he should turn pro now.

"At the end of the day, if you are a young, fit, precocious footballer, at the age of 16 or 17 you can be playing in the Premier League. If you are a precocious tennis player you could be playing at Wimbledon. Why is boxing any different? Why has everybody got a big downer on somebody who has got this god-given talent being able to cash in on it.

"I think he has the boxing brain to do that. It would be a great loss to the amateurs but a great gain for the pros. If he turned pro of course I'd like to work with him, it would be a privilege and we'd make a great team."


LEAVE THE LAD ALONE FRANK, POACHER!

how can you compare it to tennis and football, completely different.

adamiw wrote:how can you compare it to tennis and football, completely different.

Hpw can warren say Hatton and Calzaghe fight world class fighters regulary

He speaks absolute shite

Razor wrote:"He's got more chance of becoming a world champion at the age of 21 than he has of winning a gold medal."

Good old Frank. State the bloody obvious, why don't you?

1 gold per weight division
7832 world titles per weight division

glittermonkey wrote:

Razor wrote:"He's got more chance of becoming a world champion at the age of 21 than he has of winning a gold medal."

Good old Frank. State the bloody obvious, why don't you?

1 gold per weight division
7832 world titles per weight division

exactly world titles have been cheapened by the growth of the sanctioning bodies. olympic gold is still the best prize in sport.

Kahn would do well to stay ametur till at least the comonwelf championships, he has only had 14 seniour fights and he dosen't really want to risk getting in the ring so young especialy as a fighters 0 in their record is so important he could do with a little more savy.

If he wants to compeet for a second rate title and hold on to it for 30 or so fights and never prove himself to be a great boxer then maybe Warren is his way forward.

Pro or not, Khan is currently a marketing dream.
In terms of sponsorhips, adverts, public appearences and TV, he should already be set to make more money in the next 12 months than 90% of SN fighters, perhaps even ALL SN fighters. (seeing how often Calzaghe fights, he'll be earning more than him for a start).

Paula Radcliff raked in 3 million last year, so with the current hype, Amir should see some of that action.

He does not need the pro game for money, and he doesnt need it for the glory. However, certain people in the Pro game clearly need him.

Khan receieves £1200 a month , in lottery money. hopefully that will be boosted now.

Khan wants more money to stay on as an amateur - that sorta defies the point of being an amateur imo.

If money is his motivation then going pro is what he should do.

Watch, if Kahn waits 4 years, wins a gold medal and turns pro with someone else Warren will be going on about how poor a fighter he is. The man is a spam-head. No wonder he supports Arsenal.

Sky and warren will go out their way to sign khan. thast means a million pound signing on fee and 100-500k a fight. hard to turn down.

Guest wrote:The man is a spam-head. No wonder he supports Arsenal.

hey! enough of that.

We all know supporting West Bromwich Albion is the way forward.

Guest wrote:We all know supporting West Bromwich Albion is the way forward.

Only if relegation to the First Division is the way forward

topper123 wrote:Khan receieves £1200 a month , in lottery money. hopefully that will be boosted now.

I read in The Independent that some rich blokes from the City of London have offered to sponsor him to stay amateur.

Now he is with 'Elite Sports Management' that might not be necessary but I'm sure it will all help the lad.

true

I was saying true to the relegation bit.