Amir Khan has congratulated Lennox Lewis on reaching boxing’s Hall of Fame – and says he wants to follow in the former heavyweight world champion’s footsteps. Lewis will be inducted over the weekend in the American city of Canastota after a glittering career which saw him become undisputed champion and twice regain the world title. And Khan, 22, says he has been inspired by the feats of Lewis – and wants his own Hall of Fame career..
“I grew up watching Lennox’s fights and he was one of the fighters who first got me into boxing,” he said.
“It’s an amazing achievement to get nominated for the Hall of Fame, and I’d like to congratulate him on his success.
“If I can go on to replicate just half of what Lennox did then I’ll be delighted.
“But like him I want to become an undisputed world champion, and I’ll take the first step of that journey on June 27.”
It’s then that Khan will tackle Andreas Kotelnik at the O2 Arena, London, in a challenge for the WBA light-welterweight title.
“I’m desperate to give Britain another world champion,” said Khan.
“I’ve been training hard in the States to make it happen, but hopefully victory over Kotelnik will only be the start of things to come.
“I think every boxer sets their sights high when they turn professional, and I’m no different.
“I don’t want to just be a world champion, I want to be a great world champion, and that’s what I’m going to be working on doing for the next three or four years”
DAZZLER PRIMED FOR LONDON DEBUT
DARREN SUTHERLAND will make his London debut at York Hall, Bethnal Green on Tuesday July 30.
Ireland’s Olympic bronze medallist (3-0) is back page news in the Emerald Isle, but is desperate to make a splash in England.
Sutherland, 27, has made London his base since turning professional with Frank Maloney last year.
He trains in the city centre at ‘The Real Fight Club’ under the watchful eye of Brian Lawrence and now lives on the outskirts of the capital in Bromley.
Maloney said: “There is a big Irish community in London and I am sure they will turn up in their droves to support a man who is a national hero back home.
“I’m sure fans in London’s East End will like what they see because the York Hall crowd are the most knowledgeable in Britain.”
Sutherland’s three stoppage wins since switching codes gave earned him rave reviews and shown why he is considered one of world boxing’s best prospects.
Maloney added: “There is a race between Britain’s Olympians and Darren to see who wins a major professional title first.
“It is all about the right fights at the right time, but I wouldn’t mind betting it is either Darren or my other Beijing medallist Tony Jeffries.”
Heading the Sky televised bill is Nottingham’s Jason Booth (32-5) who makes the first defence his British super-bantamweight title against Thetford’s Rocky Dean (14-10)
The action packed card also features a fierce British featherweight title eliminator between Harrow’s Sikh slugger Akaash Bhatia (14-0) and Welshman Jamie Arthur (14-2).
Tickets for ‘Back from the Brink’ are available at £80 (ringside) and £30 from from all fighters and 0871 226 1508. To obtain a discount on all ticket prices buy from www.frankmaloney.com