PROUD dad Shajaad Khan watched with tears in his eyes as his son Amir became the youngest Briton to win an Olympic boxing medal.
And with 17-year-old Bolton boxing sensation guaranteed at least a bronze medal, his father joked: "We will now have to get a proper cabinet to put the medal in."
Mr Khan, who is in Athens to cheer his son on, said he could not believe the ease in which Amir reached Friday's semi-final.
The Heaton teenager guaranteed himself a place in the record books with his 97-second victory over South Korea's Baik Jong-sub, and is just one step away from the final after a dramatic first round stoppage.
Mr Khan said: "That was an incredible performance. It was awesome. He boxed briliantly. It was incredible.
"When he caught him the first time, the guy did not want to get up. He hit him again and the referee stepped in. He is guaranteed a medal and nobody can take it off him."
Mr Khan has been a colourful character at the Games in his Union Flag waistcoat. Other members of the Khan family are flying out to Athens on Wednesday afternoon to watch Amir's semi-final fight on Friday.
Meanwhile, back in Amir's home town, teenagers at his old youth club cheered their hero's victory.
More than 200 youngsters crowded around the big screen at Bolton's Lad's and Girl's Club and whooped with delight when the referee stopped the fight with 23 seconds of the first round still to go.
The teenage boxer is still a firm favourite at the Spa Road club, where his talent was obvious from an early age.
Alex Matvienko, a boxing coach at the club, said: "He's got everything. He's brave, fast, got good hand speed, he moves in and out, he's very elusive, and throws his punches at great angles.
"He still comes down to the club and spars with us. He's great with the novices, speaking to them and giving them advice."
Friend and Tonge Moor boxer Robin White said: "He's going to be massive, bigger than Ricky Hatton or Prince Naseem Hamed."
Jerry Glover, chief executive at the Lad's and Girl's Club, said: "It's an awesome achievement. Everybody here is so proud of him."
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