UK News: Amir Khan forms partnership with Salford City College; Jason Booth Becomes The Hunter

Olympic silver medallist and new WBA Light Welterweight World Champion, Amir Khan has formed an exclusive partnership with Salford City College. Amir Khan’s Gloves Community Centre, a boxing gym set up by Khan, located in Bolton, is to provide opportunities for 16-19 year old students at the college to improve fitness, gain coaching qualifications and acquire media skills. This is the first partnership of its kind in the country and the college is delighted to have been selected for such a prestigious association..

Students studying on any full-time course at Salford City College will be able to sign-up to the enrichment programme which will be run in part by staff at the college and professional coaches at Gloves Community Centre. This will give students access to world-class training facilities as well as offering them an insight into the media and public relations aspects of the sport of boxing.

Asif Vali, Chairman of Gloves Community Centre and Business Manager to Amir Khan, said “This partnership will be beneficial to the students, will provide excellent staff development opportunities for tutors at the college and introduces Gloves to a range of young people who might have the potential to be the next World Champion.”

Peter Crompton, Chief Executive of Salford City College, said “This is one of many partnerships the college has established with sporting organisations in the local community. We are privileged to be part of this new partnership and look forward to watching it develop in the coming years.”

BOOTH BECOMES THE HUNTER

JASON BOOTH will defend his British super-bantamweight title against bitter rival Michael Hunter at Sunderland’s Seaham Centre on Friday 16th October.

The bill will also feature Olympic bronze medallists Tony Jeffries (3-0) and Irishman Darren Sutherland (4-0) who face selected opponents in super-middleweight six rounders.

Local hero Jeffries and Sutherland could meet one day in the ring and the show will be a great opportunity to measure their progress.

The show topper between Booth (33-5) and former European champion and IBF world title challenger Hunter (29-1-1) looks a candidate for domestic fight of the year.

Nottingham’s Booth has been promised a European title crack if he wins the fight that will be televised live on Sky Sports.

His manager and FTM matchmaker Jimmy Gill said: “It would have been nice to have the fight in Nottingham, but it won’t make any difference. Jason is used to being on the road.

“I am very confident he will win this mandatory.

“Hunter has only had three fights in the last three years, while Jason has been on the boil and has been active.”

Southpaw Hunter, 31, previously held this title and is best known for climbing off the canvas twice to outpoint Esham Pickering in October 2005.

His world title chance came in November 2006, but he was stopped in five punishing rounds by quality Canadian Steve Molitor.

The Hartlepool warrior who will have a big following has recovered well with three points wins, but will start as an underdog against Booth.

Booth, 31, will be having his 17th major title contest and making the second defence of the championship he won against Mark Moran in April.

Tickets for the show priced £90 and £35 are available from www.frankmaloney.com and 0871 226 1508.