Bad news this week surfaced when Frankie Gavin had to withdraw from the British Olympic Boxing Squad. Unfortunately the young boxer was unable to consistently make the 60kg weight required to compete in the Lightweight division. Olympic boxers are required to make weight each day; for Gavin to have done so carried the risk of dehydration. This news is a hammer blow for the Olympic team; Gavin was expected to win Gold and do so in style. It is also a blow for British boxing, the Olympic squad now deprived of its brightest talent. However, the team is still overwhelmingly able, and expectations are high. Amir Khan, who brought back a Silver medal from Athens four years ago predicts a successful campaign for the British team, and a bright future for all the boxers involved. Before Gavin's withdrawal, Khan exclaimed 'we have eight boxers going out there and we have a chance to bring back eight medals. Every one of these boys is a great fighter. They are all capable and all they have to do is to stay focused'.
Khan, due to fight in early September in his nineteenth fight since turning professional struggled in his last outing against a strong, brave and more experienced fighter in the shape of Michael Gomes. The gritty Mancunian never took a backwards step during the encounter and sent Khan to the canvas in the opening rounds. However, the speed and accuracy of Khan's punches was the telling factor and a bruised and bloody Gomes was forced to retire from the contest. With a new trainer appointed into the Khan camp this week, the Bolton boxer is expected to improve his defensive technique, his Achilles heel in previous contests, whilst continuing to increase his strength and power. Jorge Rubio, a Cuban with an impressive track record and former trainer of Olympic Champion Kindelan, whom Khan defeated in his last amateur fight, will continue to train Khan in his familiar Bolton surroundings. Already, he has been impressed with Khan's enthusiasm, 'it's fantastic to be given the opportunity to work with such a natural talent like Amir and I believe that I can bring the best out in him. I'm really impressed by what I've seen of him so far and I know that we still have a lot of work to do'.
There are many similarities between Amir Khan, and Britain's most successful boxer of the last few years, Joe Calzaghe. Both men struggled in the early stages of their careers with their defensive capabilities. Both fighters like to stand with their hands held low, head leaned forward with chin slightly tucked underneath the shoulder blade. And both men possess vibrant and swift hand speed. With Calzaghe, and Ricky Hatton both fighting in the autumn in potentially the last fights of their careers, there will soon be a huge void for Khan to fill. He has the skills and technique to become the best in the world and dominate his division. And now it seems he has the trainer to help him achieve his goals and develop his obvious potential.
The future of British boxing is still bright, despite the inevitable retirements of Hatton and Calzaghe before the end of the year. Khan, and the British boxers representing Britain in Beijing can help soften this blow.
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