The court of “Kublai a.k.a. Amir Khan” by Tom Walker Nov 7th 2005

The legendary court of Kublai Khan in Xanadu (Beijing) was the only place to be when it came to pleasure.  Not so now with the advent of Bolton's rising empire-builder, Amir Khan. Such is the drawing power of Amir, that his followers are drawn like moths to the light. Saturday night in Glasgow saw the latest “happening” at the court of King Khan. This was more like a pop concert than a boxing match, from whole families of Pakistani origin complete with Glasgow accents, to an entire row of the most expensive ringside seats being squirmed upon by ladies of a certain age presumably in remembrance of their youth at such concerts, where perhaps the Beatles would have brought on screams and psychosomatic fainting. There is no doubting the prowess of this most talented of athletes and his innate boxing ability, and long may it continue. He is the most personable of individuals whose family ties seem certain to keep his feet fixed onto “Terra Firma”.  At least I earnestly hope so! For the sake of the sport of boxing, we need Amir Khan to continue just as he is at this moment, talented with skills far beyond his years. He has given boxing a lift at a time when it was and is, being subsumed by the “beautiful (their words not mine) game” of soccer. Kerry Duffy's succinctly worded article on this topic is accurate to a tee. However, to return to the “Khan” effect on Boxing, I've been to boxing matches with Naz holding court, to Madison Square Garden and to Vegas also, but never have I witnessed the impact of one young man, as I did in the Braehead Arena on Bonfire Night. When a four rounder with a “journeyman” can create so much mass hysteria then you know that you're present at something special. Having helped fill the arena which had been previously half empty for title bouts, is no mean trick! If anyone can then “Khan can”. In actual fact it was really nice to see complete families of second generation Pakistanis at their first boxing match, and I trust they enjoyed the experience, such that at least the sons will return to other boxing shows, if not the girls, who seemed to view this event as a concert. Indeed the drawing power of Amir Khan had a benefit for charity too, since the Disaster Emergency Committee took the opportunity to have their workers collecting spare cash from the audience for the “Earthquake Relief” more power to their elbow for using every avenue open to them in this worthwhile cause. One young Glaswegian of Pakistani origin had put two ringside tickets up for auction on a local radio station in another gesture of generosity prompted by the “Khan effect”. I don't know if Amir reads Britishboxing.net on his computer, but if you do mate, stay just as you are! You're a breath of fresh air and precisely what we tired old hands need to see the sport we love invigorated.

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