Amir Khan fancies a fight in Pakistan

Amir Khan has expressed a desire to have a big fight in Pakistan.

Bolton's former world light-welterweight champion, whose parents were born in Pakistan, was in Islamabad yesterday as a guest at the ongoing Second Benazir Bhutto International Boxing Championship having been invited by the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF).

“This is a big event and I`m happy to have witnessed it,” Khan observed. “It will also help promote boxing in Pakistan. People are crazy about cricket here but there is a lot of talent when it comes to boxing. It needs a lot of support and I’m here to give it whatever it needs.

"I’m sure in a few years, Pakistan will become a tough country when it comes to amateur boxing.

“My gym (Gloves Community Centre in Bolton) has excellent facilities and I have offered it to Pakistani pugilists.”  

“I was 17 when I started boxing and it’s only after a lot of hard work that I have managed to reach the stage at which I am today.

“The struggle, however, will continue as I strive for improvement. As a youngster, I was energetic and I wanted to become a world-class boxer. You need a lot of support in order to achieve these things and I can’t forget the support of my family, especially my father.”

Khan told BBC Radio that he'd like to stage a championship fight in Pakistan and felt it would be a great success.  Security fears have previously compromised the nation's perceived ability to host big events, especially in sports such as cricket, but Khan said that the situation has greatly improved in this regard and it wouldn't deter him from boxing there.

"Muhammad Ali did it in so many different countries around the world. Why can’t we do it in Pakistan?

"That’s what my ambition is, to bring a huge title fight to Pakistan. It can happen, there’s so much support we have here. I’ve been here for two days and the accommodation’s been brilliant, the hotels are safe, and I’ve had no problems at all."