British boxer Amir Khan on Wednesday vowed to help Pakistan produce champion pugilists with a network of academies in his family’s country of origin.
The former two-time world champion is currently touring the South Asian giant of 200 million people better known for its prowess in cricket, and plans to set up boxing schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Punjab and Karachi.
“I think we have the talent to produce boxing champions,” the 28-year-old told media during a visit to Karachi’s troubled Lyari area, which is frequently hit by gang violence, but also known for producing talented soccer players and boxers.
Photo: AFP
“I have made a promise to the nation that I will pay back what I have achieved in boxing,” added the highly rated fighter from Bolton, England, who has a record of 31 wins, including 19 knockouts, and three losses.
Khan was accompanied by a heavy security contingent to the neighborhood, which has long been a hub of political, ethnic and criminal violence.
“I am here to meet potential champions and I am not afraid of anything, we will ... beat terror and produce boxers of top quality,” he said.
Pakistan’s sole Olympic boxing medalist is Hussain Shah, who won a middleweight bronze in the Seoul Games in 1988.
The country has also produced an Asian Games gold medalist in Mehrullah Lassi, who won the featherweight division at Busan, South Korea, in 2002.
Khan, who became Britain’s youngest Olympic boxing medalist when he won silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics, said he was keen to train Pakistani boxers.
“I will pass my tricks to them and will do my best to help them qualify for the Olympics, if not the 2016 in Brazil, then the next one in Japan in 2020,” he said.
Known for his speed and aggressive style, Khan beat US boxer Chris Algieri in New York in May before once again challenging welterweight world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.
However, Mayweather announced earlier this month he would aim to match the 49-0 career record of the legendary Rocky Marciano in his final bout against fellow American Andre Berto on Sept. 12, effectively ruling out a highly anticipated clash with Khan.
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
RSS