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

Abdul Khan says his cousin Amir Khan's world-title success inspired a generation of South Asian boxers, including himself. The younger Khan told BBC Sport that watching Amir reach championship level motivated countless kids from similar backgrounds to enter the sport.

“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

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 boxers during a career that spanned two decades. Abdul Khan is now building his own professional career in boxing. The elder Khan's 2004 Olympic silver medal and subsequent world-title wins made him a crossover star and opened doors for fighters from underrepresented communities in British boxing.

What it moves

Abdul Khan's comments highlight the lasting impact of representation at the highest levels of the sport. A new wave of South Asian fighters has emerged in British boxing over the past decade. The younger Khan will look to carry forward the legacy his cousin helped establish when he next steps into the ring.

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