Boxing – Former two-time light welterweight world champion and British boxer Amir Khan believes Bahrain has the potential to start introducing large-scale professional boxing events that attract tens of thousands of spectators. .
Khan, 37, is in the kingdom to attend Royal Rumble II, a charity event organized by the Bahrain Boxing Federation (BBF) in collaboration with the Bahrain Rugby Football Club (BRFC). In this event, he will be competing against boxers from the Bahrain Royal Guard. British Army Parachute Regiment’s opponents at the BRFC tonight.
The black tie event raises funds to support the good work carried out by the Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF) and is supported by the First Vice-Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, the Chairman of the General Sports Authority (GSA) and Bahrain. It will be held atOlympic Committee President Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa
At a special ceremony held at BRFC last night, nine boxers from each team weighed in, and Khan, who appeared on stage to enthusiastic applause and cheers from the huge crowd, spoke in an exclusive interview with GDN.
“I had a very good meeting with Sheikh Khalid,” Khan said after weighing all the boxers.
“I truly believe that Bahrain should set up its own boxing committee and that Bahrain should also start attracting big professional boxing events.
“I know BBF has been doing a lot of amateur events over the past year and a half, but I think having our own commission in Bahrain means we’ll start doing our own professional boxing shows and events as well. .”
This is Prime Minister Khan’s second visit to Bahrain in the last three years. The first event was a special invitation from Shaikh Khalid and His Majesty the King’s Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
“That was my first encounter with them,” Khan recalled.
“And we had a great time together. We went to the BRAVE Combat Federation (Brave CF) Training Center. It was amazing!
Once again, Khan didn’t need any convincing when asked by BBF Technical Development Manager and National Team Coach Tony Davis if he wanted to participate in Royal Rumble II.
“Tony was on the 2004 British Olympic boxing team with me,” Khan explained.
“He is a dear friend who took good care of us when we were Olympic teammates and invited us to visit Bahrain many times, but there was always something we could do to make it happen. It was.
“But this time, I didn’t need any convincing at all. As soon as Tony said, ‘There’s a boxing event…’ “No problem!” Let’s roll! ‘It was very easy to convince,’ he laughed.
Khan added that he loved coming back to Bahrain.
“It’s great to come to Bahrain. It’s a very calm place, the people are nice and there’s no crime. I love everything about this event, the weather is great and I’m really looking forward to the big event tonight. ”
The big event, which has nine fights scheduled (originally 10 were scheduled, but one was canceled due to an injury to one of the Bahraini boxers), will be held at the weigh-in in the classic boxing tradition. There was an interesting development. Boxers from different divisions will compete against each other after registering their weight.
Khan removed the microphone from the MC and asked all nine boxers in turn for their predictions for each match, and some of the responses, which were understandably highly provocative, caused the audience to burst into laughter.
And Khan, in his prime, was in the ring, bantering with the pugilists, at one point intervening to separate two boxers after they butted heads, as it was usually a precursor. , he expressed his comfort in serving as the host. Punches are actually thrown at events like this.
“Boxing has been really good to me,” he later told GDN after spending more than 30 minutes amiably posing for photos with a long line of patient fans.
“So many people appreciate and respect me, not only when I was in the ring, but now that I’m out of it. It’s all because of boxing, and I’m very happy about that. .I can’t help but be grateful for what boxing has given me.
“I’m glad I chose the right path and this may motivate other fighters to choose boxing and be able to make a good living from it.”
Mr. Khan’s affable personality is what makes him so well-liked across the board, and the way he greets everyone with a big smile and an arm around his shoulders who walks up to take a picture with him. expressed it most clearly. And he spoke to them as if he had known them all his life.
But he is also acutely aware of how his achievements as an elite British athlete of Pakistani and Muslim descent have given him added responsibilities.
“It’s all about motivating our younger brothers and sisters in the Muslim community, and kids everywhere in general, to get involved in boxing and sports and do something positive in life. Stay motivated. and to do good for people, communities and country.
“And it’s amazing that boxing is such a big sport that so many boys and girls love all over the world, especially in countries like Pakistan and Bahrain.”
Early in his career, Khan understood that there was more to life than boxing, and used his immense popularity to campaign and fundraise for various charities. He currently runs his own charity, the Amir Khan Foundation, which focuses on various initiatives and causes across Asia, Africa and Europe.
And to maintain his drive to engage and motivate young people, Mr Khan visited St Christopher’s School early yesterday morning to interact with pupils, speak about the importance of sport and even talk to several We sparred with. (see panel)
But today, it’s all about Royal Rumble II for Khan. Khan is looking forward to his second similar contest to be held at BRFC within two years. The first match, simply known as the Royal Rumble, pitted the Royal Guards against the British Army’s Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, with the Bahrain team winning 8-1 in nine games.
“It’s going to be a great night with a lot of great matches,” Khan smiled.
“I can’t wait to get started. Boxing is one of the greatest sports of all time and it’s great to be a part of it in any way possible!”
pleasant surprise
Young students at St Christopher’s School were pleasantly surprised when two-time world champion British boxer Amir Khan appeared on campus yesterday morning.
“The school is great,” Khan told GDN. “It was adorable. I spent some time with the students, did a little boxing, and discussed life lessons as a fighter and as a sportsman.
It was really great to be with so many bright young future stars. ”