Boxing: Amir Khan Wins Again

Amir Khan may be the only boxer representing Britain at these Olympics, but he is fast turning the Peristeri Hall into a one-man show. Last night the flamboyant 17-year-old lightweight guaranteed himself a bronze medal with a quarter-final victory over Baik Jong Sub that was simply stunning, for the fans and the South Korean.

Khan stopped Baik after one minute and 37 seconds of the opening round, having previously forced him to take a mandatory count. Khan imposed himself immediately, raining in a flurry of punches from left and right that hit the Korean like an express train. He blinked. He shook his head. He knew it was all over.

Khan next fights Serik Yeleuov of Kazakhstan on Friday and few who saw the British boxer pulverising Baik would doubt that he will turn bronze into silver before Sunday's final. There, in all probability, he will face the 33-year-old Cuban maestro Mario César Kindelán, reckoned to be the best pound- for-pound amateur around and the reigning Olympic and world champion. If it takes place, it will be some contest.

By winning Khan became the youngest boxer to win a medal since Floyd Patterson at the 1952 Helsinki games. Patterson went on to take the gold in the middleweight class before becoming world heavyweight champion. "Yes I'd heard about Floyd - what was his name, Patterson? - but he didn't have to qualify for the Olympics," said Khan, whose own remembrances go no further back than Muhammad Ali, his boyhood hero, who he probably never realised beat Patterson.

No one had expected Khan to demolish the Korean quite so quickly or so spectacularly. Ali would have been proud. The British camp had studied the videos and noted that Baik was neither a quick puncher nor a quick mover. "He had been strong in the first round of his previous two fights, so I thought Amir might get him in the third," said Terry Edwards, the British national coach.

The brevity took Khan a little by surprise himself and he was quick to point out afterwards that he was not in the final yet. "I think I'm as good as the Russians and the Cubans but I've got my feet on the ground. Now that I've got a medal it is a huge thing for somebody my age. The pressure is off now and I'll be relaxed, calm and cool headed for the next fight."

This brought a roar of laughter, for to everyone who had watched him stop Baik in such a conclusive manner, coupled with his second-round win over the European champion Dimitar Stilianov, it had appeared the young Bolton-born boxer was the epitome of relaxation and calmness. Mr Cool himself. Asked what he did to get Khan into that state of mind in the build-up Edwards replied: "It's him who has to calm me down."

More tapes will be studied before Friday's fight against Yeleuov. "We don't know too much about him, but then we didn't know much about Baik either," said Edwards.

It did not seem to matter much. Baik was simply bewildered by the speed of Khan's nimble approach and his punches, including a vicious right cross that began the South Korean's troubles.

"The key thing for me was getting picked for Olympic qualifications and then it was a really big thing to come here as a representative of my country," said Khan. The only danger last night, in Edwards's mind, was that the youngster might be a bit too keen and get in too close.

"The performance that amazed me was the win against Stilianov. This guy Baik was made for him but he finished him off much quicker than I had expected," said Edwards, who has simply loved having the youngster in his charge during these games. "He's made me feel 20 years younger."

Yeleuov, who defeated Italy's Domenico Valentino on points, did not look the sort of opponent who will cause Khan any great concern. There was nothing dynamic or unduly worrying about his style and despite the British boxer's lack of experience it would be a major surprise if he were not to get to the final on the last day of the 28th Olympics.

Kindelán, an overwhelming favourite to retain his title, would be an entirely different matter. This will be the final tournament for a boxer who in the past five years has won every major amateur event, including three world championships. The two met this year in the Acropolis Cup when the brilliant and foreboding Cuban won 33-13 on points. But Khan is unconcerned.

As for the Athens boxing fraternity, who have the uttermost respect for Kindelán but who have taken Khan to their hearts, they can barely wait.