Boxing: Khan Presses Right Buttons on a Devasting Debut

It took Amir Khan just one minute 39 seconds to underline what we already knew, that he is the most exciting talent to arrive in British boxing for years and that he was too big, too strong, too fast and too technically proficient for David Bailey, his first opponent in the paid ranks who was brushed aside in exhilarating fashion in front of this packed arena.

The evening ended with alarm sirens blaring round the venue and the crowd was moved quickly on to the roads near Bolton Wanderers' Reebok Stadium where police dog handlers were keeping spectators at a distance as a precaution after a bomb alert. It proved to be a false alarm but was a sobering end to the intoxicating experience of what had gone before.

Less than half an hour earlier Khan had been acclaimed from all sides by the 7,000-strong crowd. He had walked out to the strains of Land of Hope and Glory and, after he had accounted for Bailey, carried a union flag around the ring on which was written in black letters the single word "London". His victory, he said, was dedicated to everyone affected by the bomb blasts in the capital on July 7.

Here in an area of the country where the Muslim way of life is woven tightly into the culture, a group of Asian Khan fans carried a huge flag, fusing the colours of Great Britain and Pakistan. "Khan's Army" wanted it known they were first and foremost sports fans. Alongside them a Rasta, dreads down to his waist and sporting the colours of Jamaica, cheered as Khan made his way from the ring where he had overwhelmed his first opponent with such contemptuous ease.

Hundreds of followers of the British heavyweight champion Matt Skelton had made their way from Bedford, a contingent had travelled from London supporting Bailey and by the end they were all saluting young Khan - ordinary people of every colour and creed who had paid substantially to be a small part of what just may have been the beginnings of one of the great boxing careers.

With a prime-time slot on the Saturday night ITV schedules Khan, whether he likes it or not, has become Britain's most high-profile Muslim sports star and he was pressing all the right buttons afterwards as he spoke of his outrage at the London atrocities and how he hoped he could help, in his small way, to make things a little better. For a lad of just 18 he shows remarkable maturity and composure.

Bailey had almost sprinted from his corner with arms flailing, trying to put Khan under intense pressure from the outset, but if the shy Fulham mechanic was able to land a single punch it was not apparent at ringside and Khan had no recollection afterwards. Up on his toes, skipping away from his hapless opponent, Khan replied with a blur of punches. First a hook put Bailey down and a right hand repeated the process.

Bailey's corner threw in the towel but the action continued before the referee finally halted the fight when yet another right hand smashed into the bemused and out classed Bailey. It had been a brief encounter but thoroughly brilliant.

"I was excited and nervous at the same time," said Khan, who clearly revels in the experience of performing in front of his public. "I am glad the first one is over. Now I know a bit more about what to expect."

In fact he was more animated about the decision to walk into the arena to the strains of Land of Hope and Glory. "Everyone knows about the bombing and I think it was wrong. Hopefully, I'm one of the people who can help stop this happening.

"It knocks you back, everybody was upset in Bolton. I wanted everyone to be together and to be happy. I want people to be nice to each other. I was trying to bring everyone together like I did in the Olympics."

His promoter Frank Warren spoke of "the start of a great journey for British boxing and British sport" but emphasised that he would not be hurried into moving his young fighter up through the ranks too quickly whatever the pressure and impatience of the fans and the critics.

"We'll see some quality fights in the next few years but what I hope is that Amir will have fought for one of the [world title] belts by the time he is 21 and have won it," he said.

"I've done it before with Naseem Hamed and Ricky Hatton and given them the route to the top. But neither Naz or Ricky had the sort of impact Amir is having from day one. He's a sensible lad, not arrogant or rude, he comes from a good family and it is a pleasure to be involved."

Khan will be straight back in the gym today, working with his trainer Oliver Harrison who will be pleased at a job well done. Plans are being made to have Khan back in the ring soon, perhaps in Cardiff on September 10 when Joe Calzaghe is set to defend his World Boxing Organisation super-middleweight title.

Other hyped pro debuts

Audley Harrison

His big moment

Winning 2000 Olympic super-heavyweight gold medal in Sydney.

What happened next?

Made debut on May 19 2001 amid much hype at Wembley Arena against an American private detective named Mike Middleton and stopped him in the first round. Widespread criticism ever since for the quality of his opponents.

Oscar de la Hoya

His big moment

Winning the Olympic super-featherweight gold medal at Barcelona.

What happened next?

Won debut in Inglewood on November 23 1992 and became world champion in 1994. Went on to become one of the richest and most famous fighters in the history of the sport. Now promoting as well as boxing.

Roy Jones Jnr

His big moment

Olympic middle-weight silver medal in the Seoul Olympics of 1988.

What happened next?

Made debut on May 6 1989, stopping Ricky Randall in the sixth round. Won his first world title in 1993 and went on to become the world's outstanding pound-for-pound fighter.

Pete Rademacher

His big moment

1956 Olympic heavyweight gold medallist.

What happened next?

Made his debut on July 29 1957 against Floyd Patterson. Rademacher was knocked down six times in total and was stopped in the sixth round. After 23 fights, retired in 1962 to become a successful businessman.