Amir Khan - Boxing Clever

« previous page

“I train every day. It’s part of my job now. I get up and go to the gym in the morning, then go out for a jog at night time. Or maybe go to the health club. I use the Virgin gym or I use the Bolton Wanderers one. I’m allowed to use that for conditioning. I can go over there and use their massage or physio and everything, and the team helps me out. I’m lucky.”

What does Amir have in mind for the future?

“I want to go to America in the next 12 months, that’s what I’m aiming for. I’m aiming for a title fight. 2007 will be a big year for me.”

And Amir has that core of firm support that will be with him through it all.

“As well as my dad, I have Taz, my uncle, who works in my management team with our friend Asif and my sister Tabinda. I have another friend, Sajeed, a close friend, who sorts out all the fan mail. I go down once or twice a week and I sign things. And then I’ve got mum cooking for me and stuff. I’ve got everything. Family is very close to me.

“And the fans are really cool. I can go anywhere in the country and I don’t think I’ll have trouble with anyone.

I think it would be different if I was arrogant or cocky, but I just see myself the same as everyone else. That’s the best way to be, and people seem to respect me.

“The other day I went to a school to see some kids that had a new unit that they wanted me to open. The school asked which celebrity or sports star they wanted to open the new extension, and they said they wanted Amir Khan to open it!”

He is clearly delighted and flattered.

“And this was… well, it was mad. It was just after the first title I won, and they all wanted to see the belt. I’ve never seen a school that full. There were more parents there than the kids! The parents came just to see me as well.”

Like many other famous young people, Amir Khan is regularly featured in newspapers and on television. Unlike many others, the publicity surrounding him is overwhelmingly positive. In addition to opening new wings of local schools, he assists with campaigns that promote the wellbeing of young people, by lending his image and fundraising clout to causes such as the NSPCC, and Network Rail’s ‘No Messin’ railway safety campaign.

In a Guardian article of 2004, a representative of Bolton’s Council of Mosques, said: “Our lads sometimes seem to be underachieving. Having an example like Amir Khan is going to give a huge boost to the youth of the Pakistani community.”

But we hope the British Asian community will be happy to share their hero. British youth in general, regardless of ethnic or cultural background, is in need of positive role models, and Amir Khan is setting a fine example for all of his young fans to follow.

Rick Cadger
Photography: Stan Thompson

1 | 2 | 3 | 4