Gloves are off for Amir gym’s fourth anniversary
9:17am Thursday 12th January 2012 in Boxing
AMIR Khan celebrated the fourth anniversary of his Gloves gym in style on Tuesday night with a successful boxing show.
British champion Anthony Crolla, Bury’s unbeaten professional Scott Quigg, and renowned trainer Joe Gallagher attended the event at Bolton’s Holiday Inn which hosted a capacity crowd.
A number of the gym’s aspiring boxers were showcased, with four youngsters making their debuts against local amateurs.
Khan’s business manager, Asif Vali, said: “It was a great success. The Holiday Inn provided a great setting and the turnout was phenomenal – we had to shut the doors because it was full.
“It was a big night for the boxers, especially those making their debuts who were starting out on the road to hopefully making an impact in amateur boxing.”
The gym’s popularity has soared since it opened in 2007, and currently has around 1,100 registered members and 800 active users going through the doors every week.
The project is still in its relatively early years, and Vali believes it has a long and bright future.
“The gym has been a massive success,” he said. “We have schools and organisations coming from all over the country to look around and use the facilities.
“A big thing is that the community has benefited fantastically because it is based in an area of Bolton where crime is high and would be higher without this facility.
“Amir has been massively influential in its success. He is always involved when he is in the UK and is very hands-on with training and giving the youngsters advice and feedback, which is invaluable.
Having Amir around is an inspiration to the youngsters.”
Vali believes the gym is not far away from producing its first professional fighters.
“We’re nearly there in turning out professional boxers,” he said. “We’ve had kids building up their experience and ability for a few years, and I’m sure that we will produce professionals in the near future.”
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