THEY may be professional boxers, but Amir and Haroon Khan are brothers, and as susceptible to sibling rivalry as anyone else.

Haroon has openly admitted to regarding former two-time world champion Amir as his idol, but he cannot help having a sneaking ambition to get one up on him.

“Amir went to the Olympics and won a silver, and I thought maybe I could go and do one better,” he said. “But that didn’t go to plan.

“But as a professional Amir didn’t win a British title or a European title, so, hopefully, I can do something he didn’t do.”

The 21-year-old cannot hide the excitement he felt on winning his professional debut fight on Saturday night’s Sheffield bill, which Amir headlined and also won.

And he is determined to get the same feeling in his home town.

“I hoped to have my pro debut in Bolton, but Sheffield came up. But I hope to fight here in the future because I know I have a big fan base in Bolton.

“A lot of people said to me before this fight that they were looking forward to my fight more than Amir’s.

“I would like to fight at the Reebok or the Bolton Arena, just so I can say I have fought at home.”

Haroon knows he has a hard act to follow in the shape of his superstar big brother, who has been there, done that and got the T-shirt several times over.

So where do they get their fighting ability from?

“My dad always says both me and Haroon got the boxing from my mum,” smiles Amir. “I don’t know, I think it’s in the genes or something.

“We come from a warrior caste, so maybe that’s the reason. But certainly it’s in the blood.”

Amir’s next big date is his wedding this summer, and he reveals his future wife is not overly thrilled by seeing him get punched.

“It is very difficult for my girlfriend to watch me fight,” he said. “But it is my job and has always been there with me.

“I have been doing it since I was eight years old.

“Like my mum, she has to turn a blind eye to it a bit. They never come to the arena.

“Maybe the two can sit down and not watch the fight and talk or something.”

Whatever lies in store for Amir in his attempt to win back the world title, he will leave a huge boxing legacy in his home town.

His success has spawned a flood of boxing clubs in Bolton, a fact he admits to being extremely proud of.

“Boxing in Bolton is so powerful, so strong now, and it is getting better and better. “It is great I have my own stable at Gloves and there are boxing clubs everywhere in Bolton now.

“It’s a great sport that keeps kids out of trouble and off the streets.

“It gives kids and men discipline, and I am very proud that people say I am one of the reasons so many kids in Bolton have got into boxing.

“I love the sport and do what I love doing. From that, we have had success at Gloves with kids wanting to do what I do.

“It makes me happy and puts a smile on my face.”