Amir Khan to stay amateur

30 Aug, 2004

British teenage boxing sensation Amir Khan intends to stay amateur and put big-money offers on hold after bowing out of the Athens Olympics with a silver medal on Sunday.
With praise from two great champions and the cheers of an admiring crowd still ringing in his ears, the 17-year-old lightweight said he wanted another shot at winning Olympic gold.
More immediately, the college student also needed to catch up with his classwork and to start thinking about taking a driving test.
"I want to stay amateur until I'm 22," the Bolton scrap metal dealer's son said after losing the final 30-22 to Cuba's defending champion Mario Kindelan.
"I want to be more mature and stronger for the next Olympics and hopefully I'll win gold. And then I've got an idea to turn professional and I'll be a lot stronger."

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