BOLTON's teenage boxer Amir Khan had to contend with both his opponent and a partisan Greek crowd when he began his Olympic campaign on Monday.

But anyone who has seen the television coverage of the fight would have spotted a small but noisy band of Amir supporters urging him on -- and most of them were friends and family from Bolton.

Amir, aged 17, has paid tribute to their support in the hall following his first-round victory over Greece's Marios Kaperonis on Monday.

The Bury Amateur Boxing Club fighter said: "I'm going to go all the way for them. The support makes a big difference. They have come all the way from Bolton to be here."

Amir's father Shajaad was hoarse after he had shouted his son on to an impressive victory as the young lightweight outclassed Kaperonis with his lightning jab and reflexes.

He said: "It was a very partisan crowd, as Amir's opponent was not only Greek but came from the area.

"But my brothers and I waved Union flags and gave him as much support as we could. I have nearly lost my voice -- and that was after just one fight."

Amir is again in action on Friday at 1pm, when he takes on the experienced European champion Bulgarian Dimitar Stilianov. Shajaad is confident that if Amir wins that fight, he will go on to get a medal.

He added: "His opponent is very experienced and a southpaw, which always makes it difficult. But Amir will talk to Mike Jelley (his personal coach) and Terry Edwards (the GB coach) and plan for the fight.

"It will not be easy, but I think he can win -- and so does Amir."

The British Olympic Association are trying to organise a press conference after Amir's bout following the media scrum which followed his first-round encounter.

Journalists clamoured to interview him after his stoppage win over Kaperonis. Khan had to make his way down a long line of British journalists, answering the same questions two or three times.