Abdul Khan credits cousin Amir for lighting fire in South Asian boxers

Abdul Khan says his cousin Amir Khan inspired a generation of South Asian fighters to pursue boxing at the highest level. The younger Khan pointed to the former world champion's success as the spark for countless young prospects.

“Seeing Amir reach the heights of the sport only lit the fire in probably the majority of the South Asian kids out there, including me”

— Abdul Khan, via BBC Sport

What Abdul Khan said

Abdul Khan spoke to BBC Sport about his journey into the professional ranks and the impact his cousin's career had on British boxers from similar backgrounds. Amir Khan won world titles at lightweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light-welterweight and became one of Britain's most recognisable fighters during a career that stretched from the 2004 Olympics through to his retirement in 2022.

What it moves

Abdul Khan's comments underline the wider influence Amir Khan had beyond his own achievements in the ring. The next wave of South Asian boxers now looks to build on the platform the Bolton fighter created, with Abdul among those carrying the torch forward in the professional game.

Source: bbc.com. Full Abdul Khan fight history and recent news at boxingnews.com.