Boxing: Double Act Plot the Way for Khan

Before Amir Khan beat the Cuban amateur legend Mario Kindelán in his final fight before taking a place in the paid ranks he had spent long hours in the Salford gym of the professional trainer Oliver Harrison. Now the secret is out that he is turning pro, they will work together openly before Khan makes his professional debut on July 16.

The 18-year-old Khan fights on the undercard of the bill where the British heavyweight champion Matt Skelton defends his title against the former champion Danny Williams at the Excel Arena in London's Docklands. No opponent has been named yet but promoters say he will be fighting in a contest over four three-minute rounds.

Harrison, a 44-year-old former kick boxer, spent four weeks preparing Khan to beat Kindelán - previously recognised as the best amateur boxer in the world - tightening up the skills that had taken the Bolton youngster to the Olympic final where he had been beaten by the same opponent.

There can be no doubt he did an extraordinary job. In the brief time they spent together Harrison - who is developing a reputation as one of the brightest young trainers in the country - managed to tighten Khan's defence and work out the tactical masterplan that accounted for the twice Olympic and three-time world champion.

The transformation in Khan was nothing short of extraordinary. "It was a pleasure working with him," said Harrison last night. "And I look forward to being with him in the future. We had watched how to beat Kindelán and worked at it day in, day out. We had spent hours in the gym and he carried out everything that we had talked about.

"He is incredible to work with. You only have to tell him something once and he is putting it into his work. I told him he was a better counter-puncher than Kindelán and that he didn't need to lunge in behind his punches as he did in the Olympic final where he was just picked off.

"He boxed at distance and used his legs. He threw combinations - bam, bam, bam - and quietly outboxed him early to take a points lead. Suddenly Kindelán's thinking 'What the hell is going on?' I wasn't allowed in the corner [his amateur coach Mick Jelly was assisted by the national coach Terry Edwards during the fight] but I could see he was carrying out the instructions and everything we had worked on to perfection."

Harrison will guide Khan before his first paid fight and is only too well aware of the changes he must make in the young prospect, saying: "He has been rushing in, with his chin in the air. He has got incredible hand speed, though, and it will be even better once he learns to get his elbows tucked into his chest a little more.

"He has to put his family to one side. It has to be just him and me and he can go all the way. People have compared him to Naseem Hamed [the former world featherweight champion], but to me he is more like Sugar Ray Leonard. That's high praise but he is special. And the biggest thing is that he is ready to learn."

Khan's promoter Frank Warren was delighted by news that ITV's broadcast of the Khan-Kindelán fight attracted a peak audience of 6.3m viewers, significantly more than the figure watching Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, the previous programme.

And Warren is optimistic he will now conclude a deal for his promotions to be televised by the network. One of the principal bargaining points will be the huge public interest surrounding Khan, who has said he wants to be the youngest ever British world boxing champion - a record currently held by Ted "Kid" Lewis, who became the world welterweight champion in 1915 when he was 54 days short of his 21st birthday.

"Whether or not that is realistic it is too soon to say but it gives us something to aim at," said Warren. "Now the most important thing is to get him the right matches to progress his career." Warren guided Hamed and, more recently, Ricky Hatton to world titles and is confident he can do the same for Khan, although he adds: "In the 70s there was a guy called Vernon Sollas, a great featherweight amateur, but when he became a pro he couldn't do the rounds. Get him to the eighth and it was like somebody had pricked him with a pin.

"So it is all about learning the trade. Am I going to over-match Amir at this stage? No. But am I going to put him in against easy knock-overs? The answer to that is no because it is all about getting him the right fights to gain experience. It is about building a career.

"You can draw an analogy with Wayne Rooney. Everybody is saying he is the best young player in the country but he had to be shielded in his formative years. At Everton David Moyes did a fantastic job. He didn't play him in every game and Wayne came on as substitute when it mattered. He was still developing physically and now he is where he needs to be.

"Amir is only 18. In boxing he is a baby. But he is a natural athlete with a great eye and great timing, just like Naseem Hamed. And he has terrific natural confidence, which counts for a lot. Promoting is about building fighters and helping them to learn their craft.

How Khan must adapt

The principal difference between the amateur and professional sport is that amateur bouts are fought over four two-minute rounds, while the professional fights have a championship limit of 12 rounds of three minutes' duration. John Rawling looks at the big changes Amir Khan will face as he joins the professional ranks.

Stamina

Professionals are seasoned hard men who know how to stay the distance. Khan must develop the stamina and strength to stay with battle-hardened veterans who know how to survive and push a young prospect over three-minute rounds. Championship fights in the pro ranks are not won by amateur sprinters.

Defence

Khan has to learn defensive techniques to get him through the rounds. Showy single punches earn points in amateur bouts but the pro game demands a tighter defence to survive, in an environment where strength and dirty tricks are part and parcel of the business.

Strategy

He must listen to the advice of those who know what it takes to prosper over the longer fights of the professional sport. Twelve-round fights mean that Amir must have greater tactical awareness than has been necessary in amateur bouts. He must think on his feet and react to the guidance of his corner.

Strength

All fighters reaching the pro ranks speak of the physical strength of everybody who makes a living in boxing. Khan will have to work at the physical conditioning needed to reach the highest levels. The great champions have all "lived in the gym" and Khan must do the same. He needs a big punch and power.

Resilience

It is debatable how much head guards defend the amateurs but Khan has to prove his ability to take a punch in the longer fights of the pro game, when he will fight without any protective padding. The ability to take a shot can be just as important as dishing out punishment and conditioning is the key.

Money

The money Khan will earn might provide distractions. The ability to remain focused on his sport is vital. Many have lost their way once the temptations of fame and fortune become part of their lives. Khan must listen to those who care for his best interests and he should remember those in whom he invested his trust at the outset.