Amir Khan Plans To Open His Own Boxing Club
Posted: 06 Apr 2006, 12:26
Amir Khan plans to open up his own boxing club in Bolton.
The 19-year-old Olympic silver medalist expects his new gym will be ready later this year and will cater for both professional and amateur boxers.
Amir has bought premises in Prince Street, which he plans to convert into a gym and offices, and will use as his training base in future.
The Bolton teenager, who will make only his seventh professional fight in Belfast next month, currently trains in Salford at his coach Oliver Harrison's gym.
"There is no problem about Oliver moving to Bolton to train Amir," said his father Shajaad Khan. "Also there is a threat that Oliver's gym may have to close in the next couple of years. Amir will be happier training in Bolton as it involves less travelling.
"We have decided to run an amateur section because there is a great demand in Bolton and hopefully it will get kids off the street. I know there are clubs at Tonge and the Lads Club but this will provide another option.
"Amir is very keen on the idea of an amateur club and says he may like to train youngsters himself when he retires. We certainly won't be running the amateur club to make money, it is about putting something into the community."
He said that although his younger son Haroon would train at the new club, the 14-year-old would still be a member of Bury ABC and Mike Jelley, who also trained Khan in his amateur days, would still be his coach.
Amir and his father travelled to Pakistan this week to return to the area devastated by the earthquake. The boxer has raised money for Oxfam and was on a fact-finding trip to see how the money was being spent.
http://www.boltoneveningnews.co.uk
The 19-year-old Olympic silver medalist expects his new gym will be ready later this year and will cater for both professional and amateur boxers.
Amir has bought premises in Prince Street, which he plans to convert into a gym and offices, and will use as his training base in future.
The Bolton teenager, who will make only his seventh professional fight in Belfast next month, currently trains in Salford at his coach Oliver Harrison's gym.
"There is no problem about Oliver moving to Bolton to train Amir," said his father Shajaad Khan. "Also there is a threat that Oliver's gym may have to close in the next couple of years. Amir will be happier training in Bolton as it involves less travelling.
"We have decided to run an amateur section because there is a great demand in Bolton and hopefully it will get kids off the street. I know there are clubs at Tonge and the Lads Club but this will provide another option.
"Amir is very keen on the idea of an amateur club and says he may like to train youngsters himself when he retires. We certainly won't be running the amateur club to make money, it is about putting something into the community."
He said that although his younger son Haroon would train at the new club, the 14-year-old would still be a member of Bury ABC and Mike Jelley, who also trained Khan in his amateur days, would still be his coach.
Amir and his father travelled to Pakistan this week to return to the area devastated by the earthquake. The boxer has raised money for Oxfam and was on a fact-finding trip to see how the money was being spent.
http://www.boltoneveningnews.co.uk
