SAINTS GET A HELPING HAND FROM BOXING STAR KHAN

Saints Amateur Boxing Club are hoping the inspiration of Amir Khan will help boost their coffers and also their boxers' Olympic aspirations.

The former Olympic medallist and Commonwealth lightweight champion has donated a pair of autographed boxing gloves to enhance the Mutley-based club's fundraising activities.

But instead of letting the Bolton boxer's gloves go to the highest bidder at an auction, Saints have come up with a different twist.

While Khan reportedly auctioned off a pair of signed gloves in aid of the Pakistan earthquake appeal, raising around £5,000, Saints' pair coach Carl Robson and spokesman Gary Baker are keen these gloves should go to a local youngster.

Therefore, Saints have come up with the 'Amir Khan Challenge' whereby Plymouth's newest amateur boxing club are hoping to recruit more members and reward one lucky youngster with their sporting hero's gloves.

Baker explained: "The challenge works like this - the person who collects the most sponsorship prior to May 16, will be awarded Amir Khan's boxing gloves.

"It would have been easy to raise a lot of cash by having the usual auction, which would mean the person with the most cash would walk off with Khan's gloves.

"That's also fine because it serves a good purpose, but by opting for the Khan Challenge, we're offering someone who wouldn't normally be able to afford them, the chance to have gloves to keep.

"Khan is an ideal role model both for boxing and for youngsters as his huge following proves.

"He's won a medal at the Olympics in 2004 and is now fighting as a professional but always conducts himself well. Saints also has ambitions to produce an Olympic boxer for Great Britain in time, hopefully, for London 2012.

"We've got talented boxers on our books, but we also need to raise funds in order to keep alive those hopes.

"We're hoping the Amir Khan Challenge will provide the spark for both aims."

Reader comments
good idea i am a boxing coach for rubery abc in birmingham if ther is any thing we can do to help in any way let me know .if you have any shows coming up and need to make some bouts up let us know .good luck lads
ray monk, birmingham

Nice one lads, glad to hear of it and the best of luck to all of you. Take it easy, but remember, train hard, fight easy!!
Rab Butler, at sea (the other coach!)

well done Amir Khan,what an incentive for the boxers. the clubs not been up and running long but i must say there couch is very supportive to his boys well done, i would like to wish them all good luck
joanna hynes, plymouth