England’s youngest Olympic boxing medallist at 17 and youngest pro boxing champion at 22, Amir Khan is not enthused by the decision to allow pros into the Olympic ring.
Rio 2016 was the first step by AIBA (world boxing governing body) to allow boxing without headguards, as in professional boxing, in a move to attract high-profile pros to compete with amateurs.
The 30-year-old Amir is in India to promote the Super Boxing League (SBL). Excerpts:
Pro boxers’ reluctance to step into the Olympic ring
Mr. Wu (AIBA president Dr Wu Ching-Kuo) is is a friend of mine and wanted me to fight in the Olympics. You are not going to get the best pros. Is AIBA going to pay you millions? Why would I risk my pro career by going to the Olympics, get my hand injured in the second round and probably get beaten by an amateur? People will say an amateur beat a pro. We are prize fighters and box for money.
Vijender Singh’s rise in pro boxing
Vijender is doing great things. I like the way he fights. He is skilful, looks good and is learning fast. Winning a medal at the Olympics (2008 Beijing) and Commonwealth Games is not easy. Moving from India to England for training, he seems serious. He has good training in England and is doing what he needs to do. He has not really been tested.
On a pro bout against Vijender
I don’t know why it has not materialised. I am in the top three in the world. Vijender is still building his career. Vijender will need to come down (from super middleweight). I will need to move up (from middleweight).
Fight with Manny Pacquiao being called off
Manny did not want to fight. He obviously knew it would be tough. We have known each other since 2008. I used to train with him. It (Khan versus Pacquiao) can still happen, because it makes good money in Dubai, big pay-per-view money in the United States.