Amir Khan (boxer)
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| Amir Khan | |
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Real name | Amir Khan |
| Nickname(s) | The Pride of Bolton and Great Britain |
| Rated at | Lightweight / Light-welterweight |
| Nationality | British |
| Birth date | December 8 1986 |
| Birth place | Bolton, Greater Manchester, England |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 15 |
| Wins | 15 |
| Wins by KO | 12 |
| Losses | 0 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 0 |
Amir Khan (born December 8, 1986) is a British boxer from Bolton, Greater Manchester, England of Pakistani descent. He is the IBF inter-continental light welterweight champion, the current Commonwealth lightweight champion, and is ranked # 4 in the WBO world lightweight rankings. He is also ranked # 8 by the Ring Magazine and # 9 by Boxrec.[1]
He went to Devonshire Road Primary School, Smithills High School and Bolton Community College in Bolton. He was a hyperactive child and a born fighter, according to his father, who encouraged him to take up boxing.
Khan belongs to the Janjua Rajput clan of Pakistan,[2] which has a long and well documented history of warrior kings and a strong martial reputation. He often uses his position as a well-known British Muslim to encourage better relations between British Muslims and the wider community, particularly in his home town of Bolton. He is the older brother of boxer Haroon Khan and the younger cousin of cricketer Sajid Mahmood.
Contents |
[edit] Amateur
Khan rose to fame as Britain's sole representative in boxing at the 2004 Athens Olympics, winning a silver medal at the age of 17 in the lightweight boxing category. He was Britain's youngest Olympic boxer since Colin Jones in 1976. He lost in the final to Mario Kindelan, the Cuban who had also beaten him several months earlier in the pre-Olympic match ups in Greece. In 2005 he avenged the two losses by beating the 34 year old Kindelan in his final amateur fight.
[edit] Olympic results
- Round of 32: Defeated Marios Kaperonis of Greece (RSC-3)
- Round of 16: Defeated Dimitar Stilianov of Bulgaria (37-21)
- Quarterfinals: Defeated Jong Sub Baik of South Korea (RSC-1)
- Semifinals: Defeated Serik Yeleuov of Kazakhstan (40-26)
- Gold Medal Match: Lost to Mario Kindelan of Cuba (23-30)
[edit] Professional
Despite declaring after the 2004 Olympics that he would pursue a Gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Khan turned professional in 2005, signing with England's leading boxing promoter, Frank Warren. This was fuelled by a row with the English Amateur Boxing Association over the ticketing allocation for his family and friends at the English ABA Finals.
He has won his first fifteen professional fights, drawing good reviews in the press. Khan fought for the IBF Inter-continental title against French fighter Rachid Drilzane on December 9, 2006, winning a 10 round decision. Khan experienced the first knockdown of his career; he claimed he got his foot caught in the rope and touched down with his glove, giving the referee no choice but to award his opponent the knock-down.[3] Drilzane had never scored a knockout in his 13 fight career.
Khan has announced his intention to be a World Champion by the time he is 21, by the end of 2007 - comments which have prompted reactions from boxing fans directed towards his promoter to increase the level of his opposition. Khan's life and career to date have already been documented in a book titled Amir Khan: a Boy from Bolton (ISBN 0747587604) and he has even released a DVD of his first nine fights.
On April 7, 2007, he beat Steffy Bull in a three round technical knockout in Cardiff, which was later criticised by many observers to have been fixed, but the remarks were later polished by defending promoter Frank Warren.
On July 14, 2007 Khan faced Willie Limond for the Commonwealth lightweight title. During the fight Khan was knocked down in the 6th round and appeared to be hurt badly. However, after another barrage of right hands, Khan weathered the storm and in the seventh round knocked down Limond after a fierce exchange of punches. The referee had stopped the fight on advice of the doctor since Limond sustained a perforated eardrum, broken nose and damaged right eye.
On October 6, 2007 Khan faced Scott Lawton in his first defence of the Commonwealth Lightweight Title. Khan fought a mature and clinical fight, boxing with single punches for the majority of the first three rounds. Khan increased the pressure at the end of the third, and secured a TKO victory in the fourth. The referee stepped in when Lawton failed to fight back.
The most significant win of Amir's career so far came when Khan celebrated his 21st birthday by successfully defending his Commonwealth Lightweight Title against Graham Earl on December 8, 2007. Earl, rated the no.1 British lightweight and a former world title challenger, was considered Khan's toughest test by some way and a tough fight was expected - especially due to some ill-feeling between the pair in the run up to the fight. However, It took Khan just 72 seconds to have the fight referee declare Earl in no fit state to continue. The speed at which Amir dispatched his man came as a big surprise to most observers, Earl looking barely in the same ring as the Commonwealth champion. Khan later claimed that he rated this victory as the best of his career. Khan is set to fight again on February 2, 2008 against Martin Kristjansen of Denmark for the WBO intercontinental lightweight title at the ExCel Arena in London.
[edit] Record
| Olympic medal record | |||
| Boxing | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | 2004 Athens | Lightweight | |
[edit] Amateur
- 2003 - Won a gold medal at the AAU Junior Olympics.
- 2004 - Won a gold medal at the European Student Championships and the World Junior Championships.
- 2004 - Won the Strandja Cup to qualify for the Olympics in Athens
- 2004 - Won a silver medal at the Olympics, beating Marios Kaperonis, Dimitar Stilianov, Jong Sub Baik and Serik Yeleuov. He lost to Mario Kindelan in the final.
- 2005 - Beat Craig Watson on points in the ABA Championships.
- 2005 - Won the last match of his amateur career beating Mario Kindelan 19-13 at the Reebok Stadium.[4]
[edit] Professional
| Res. | Opponent | Type | Rd., Time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | David Bailey | TKO | 1(4), 1:49 | July 16, 2005 | Bolton Arena | First professional fight |
| Win | Baz Carey | Decision | 4(4), | September 10, 2005 | Cardiff International Arena | Points: 40-34 |
| Win | Steve Gethin | TKO | 3(4), 0:48 | November 5, 2005 | Braehead Arena | |
| Win | Daniel Thorpe | TKO | 2(4), 2:57 | December 10, 2005 | ExCeL Exhibition Centre | |
| Win | Vitali Martynov (BEL) | TKO | 1(6), 1:15 | January 28, 2006 | Nottingham Arena | |
| Win | "Action" Jackson Williams | TKO | 3(6), 2:16 | February 25, 2006 | ExCel Exhibition Centre | |
| Win | Laszlo Komjathi (HUN) | Decision | 6(6) | May 20, 2006 | King's Hall, Belfast | 60-54 |
| Win | Colin Bain (SCO) | TKO | 2(6), 2:20 | July 8, 2006 | Millennium Stadium | |
| Win | Ryan Barrett | TKO | 1(6) 1:52 | September 2, 2006 | Bolton Arena | |
| Win | Rachin Drilzane (FRA) | Decision (Unanimous) | 10(10) | December 9, 2006 | ExCel Exhibition Centre | 99-91;99-91;99-91.
Won IBF Inter-continental Light Welterweight Title |
| Win | Mohammed Medjadi (FRA) | TKO | 1(8), 0:55 | February 17, 2007 | Wembley Arena | |
| Win | Steffy Bull | TKO | 3(8), 1:43 | April 7, 2007 | Millennium Stadium | |
| Win | Willie Limond | RTD | 8(12), 3:00 | July 14, 2007 | O2 Arena | Limond retired at end of 8th round.
Won Commonwealth Lightweight Title. |
| Win | Scott Lawton | TKO | 4(12), 0:32 | October 6, 2007 | Nottingham Arena | |
| Win | Graham Earl | TKO | 1(12), 1:12 | December 8, 2007 | Bolton Arena | |
| Martin Kristjansen | February 2, 2008 | Excel Arena |
[edit] Criticism
Despite showing impressive speed and power inside the ring, Amir Khan (and Frank Warren in particular) have been criticised with regards to the quality of Khan's opposition. None of whom have held particularly impressive records, possessed any great skills or have a style that is tailor-made for Khan which has drawn a negative reaction from some critics who say that with this quality of opposition, Khan will not be ready for the World title match that he has requested. Khan said in an interview after knocking out Graham Earl that "Every fighter is going to get criticism but it's the way you cope with it. The way I cope with it is to train harder and put it behind me." and that the criticism "motivates (Khan), more than anything."
[edit] Motoring offences
On 23rd October 2007 Khan was convicted of careless driving in Bolton Crown Court for which he was given a six month driving ban and a £1000 fine. This was for an incident on March 2, 2006 in the centre of Bolton when he hit a pedestrian on a pelican crossing whilst overtaking a line of cars and running through a red traffic light. The pedestrian suffered a broken leg as a result of the incident in which Khan was estimated to be travelling at 47 mph in a 30 mph limit area and was in the incorrect lane of traffic. Khan had originally been charged with the more serious offence of dangerous driving.[5]
Khan was also supposed to appear in court in Rochdale on October 26, 2007 accused of travelling in excess of 140 mph on the M62 motorway on December 31, 2006. He did not appear in court and the case was adjourned to November 2, 2007, the District Judge has said that he will issue an arrest warrant if the accused does not appear then. He is also charged with not producing his driving licence and insurance certificate after this incident.[6]
[edit] Personal life
- He is an avid supporter of his local football club, Bolton Wanderers, and often uses the club's training facilities at the Reebok Stadium.[7]
- Attended Smithills school in Bolton and Bolton Community College.
- He is a first cousin of the England fast bowler Sajid Mahmood.[8]
- He has a younger brother named Haroon Khan, who is currently an amateur boxer.
- He performed an Umrah in 2006.[9]
- He went to Pakistan to help the 2005 Kashmir earthquake victims.[10][11]
- Is involved in the No Messin' campaign which promotes child safety around British railways.[12]
- He enjoys playing sports such as football and cricket.[13]
- He is good friends with footballers Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, and tennis player Andy Murray.[14]
- There has been an episode of 'Proud Parents' about him and his parents.
- He is a car enthusiast and owns several private number plates.[15]
- He sometimes makes his ring entrance to the playing of Is This the Way to Amarillo by Tony Christie, popularised by his fellow Boltonian Peter Kay.
Amir was involved in a TV programme for Channel 4, "Amir Khan's Angry Young Men", which consisted of three 50 minute long episodes. The programme centred around troubled men and aimed to use the disciplines of boxing, coupled with faith and family values, to help re-focus their lives, and help steer them away from trouble in the future. It was screened in August/September 2007.
[edit] References
- ^ Khan into WBO Top 10, amirkhan-boxing.com. URL accessed 13 December 2007.
- ^ Mens Health December 2006 issue, p128
- ^ Khan tested on way to first title. BBC Sports - Boxing, dated 10 December 2006.
- ^ Golden boy Amir signs off in style. The Bolton Evening News, first published 16 May 2005.
- ^ Khan cleared of dangerous driving. The Manchester Evening News, first published 23 October 2007.
- ^ Judge gives Khan arrest warning. BBC News, dated 26 October 2007.
- ^ Amir Khan - Boxing Clever, p.4. regtransfers.co.uk, URL accessed 13 December 2007.
- ^ Mum's curries keep us at home. sport.guardian.co.uk, dated 30 July 2006.
- ^ Bolton wanderer on pilgrimage from Mecca to Muhammad. The Times, first published September 23, 2006.
- ^ A gift for Pakistan. From The Bolton News archive, first published 22 December 2005.
- ^ Amir back in quake zone. The Bolton Evening News, first published 12 April 2006.
- ^ 'No Messin' Live! 2006' - railway safety campaign networkrailmediacentre.co.uk, dated 6 July 2006.
- ^ Amir Khan - A True Talent. smaarttalent.com. URL accessed 13 December 2007.
- ^ The boy is doing fine in the hard man's world. The Independent on Sunday, first published 30 October 2005.
- ^ Amir Khan - Boxing Clever, regtransfers.co.uk, URL accessed 13 December 2007.
[edit] External links
- Amir Khan's official website
- Professional boxing record for Amir Khan from Boxrec
- Amir Khan's official fansite
- Amir Khan Boxing Equipment from RBK
- Amir Khan at the Internet Movie Database
| Preceded by Willie Limond | Commonwealth British EmpireLightweight boxing champion 14 July 2007- | Succeeded by 'Incumbent' |
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