BOLTON boxer Haroon Khan once thought his sporting future would be out in the middle of a football pitch rather than in a boxing ring.

As a youngster, he dreamed of belting balls into the back of the net with his feet at the Reebok and not competing for belts with his fists.

But all that changed when his junior team closed and he accompanied older brother Amir to boxing training as he started on his path towards Olympic silver in Athens and subsequent world titles at light welterweight.

Flyweight Commonwealth bronze medallist Haroon, who is more than four years Amir’s junior, is in line to make his professional debut on the undercard of his brother’s top-of-the-bill bout with Julio Diaz in Sheffield tomorrow.

And he reveals that it is down to shadowing his superstar sibling as a teenager that he gained the thirst to follow the same path.

“I was into football more than boxing as a kid,” Haroon told The Bolton News.

“Then, at the age of nine, my football team got shut down at Little Lever.

“I was gutted because I was properly into the football but there was not much to do when that stopped.

“I just started watching Amir train and going to the gym with him.

“I got the buzz watching him and had a go at punching the bag and look where I am now.

“I didn’t really think I would get to where I am now, boxing internationally and as a pro.”

Haroon is now signed up as a fully-fledged professional and hoping to achieve as much success as a brother he refers to as his “idol”.

He knows success will also bring criticism but hopes to copy his brother’s ethos and prove any doubters wrong.

And he believes his different style will suit the pro circuit.

He added: “The pro style suits me more than the amateurs.

“It is my first fight and it will be tough but I am sure the style will suit me more.

“I think my style is a bit more aggressive than Amir’s; I am a bit more flat-footed.

“Amir is always moving on his feet and is more slick.

“I can learn so much from him, and already have.

“All through his career, Amir has admitted he has made mistakes but has learned from them.

“He got knocked out by Breidis Prescott and went on to be a world champion.

“Hopefully, he will do that again.

“I have seen the amount of hate around with Amir on Twitter and things like that and I don’t know why it is like that.

“But I think it is the haters that motivate you to be even more successful.

“You are eager to go out there and prove a point.

“I can’t stress how much I am looking forward to my professional debut.

“Wearing the eight-ounce gloves and no headguards is going to be a big step up from the amateur level but I cannot wait.

“Fighting in front of a big crowd at Sheffield just makes it even more exciting.”

For Haroon it may now be big crowds at arenas than the football stadia he once dreamed of gracing.

But that does not stop him keeping an eye on his home-town club’s fortunes.

He said: “Wanderers are doing well and in the play-off places.

“They can get a chance of going back up to the Premier League and I really hope they do.”

l To keep up to date with Haroon’s progress, follow him on Twitter @harrykingkhan.