AMIR'S path to the Olympics began at the age of eight, when his father Shajaad took the hyperactive child to the boxing gym at Halliwell as a way to channel his energies.
From the Bolton Evening News, Thursday 17 February 2005
By the age of 11 he had joined Bolton Lads' Club and faced his first competition. His versatility as a fighter impressed the coaches, and it was not long before Amir, who had moved to Bury Boxing Club, started collecting the first of more than 70 trophies scooped during his meteoric rise.
In the 18 months before stepping up to senior level, Amir won the National Schoolboy and National Association of Boys Clubs' titles, the British Junior ABA Championship, a "mini-Olympics" competition for under-16s in the USA, the European Cadet Championships in Lithuania and the European Student Championships in Rome.
He also picked up the Best Cadet Award for the most impressive young amateur at the Annual British Boxing Awards last October.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article