AMIR Khan has been appointed to a new role helping develop boxing in the Middle East.

The World Boxing Council have named the Bolton fight star as president of their new division in the region.

His uncle Taz Khan has been appointed vice-president.

Amir has not fought since July 2019 when he stopped Billy Dib in four rounds in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to lift the WBC’s International welterweight title.

WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán was full of praise for the work the 33-year-old Olympic silver medallist has already done in the region and is of the belief the sport can go from strength to strength in the Middle East.

“I am confident that under the leadership of champion Amir Khan, the culturally diverse Middle East region will provide a unique platform for the proper development of our sport and with time produce a new batch of WBC champions,” he said.

“There is a lot of undiscovered talent in the region and the WBC is particularly eager to develop female boxing and amateur boxing there as well.

“Champion Amir Khan has already taken the initial steps to develop boxing in Pakistan.

“The WBC and its board of governors are confident that under the WBC umbrella, champion Khan’s efforts will extend through the region.”

Sulaimán pointed to Khan’s charity endeavours through the Amir Khan foundation as one of the reasons he has been selected for the post.

“Champion Amir Khan’s activities inside and outside the ring have had a positive influence on the youth of the world,” he added.

“He has not just achieved world class boxing honours in the ring but, true to the WBC mission, he has become an inspiration for young people globally.

“His long years of charitable work have benefited many people worldwide.”

Khan’s next move in the ring is not clear.

He has talked up the possibility of several big fights before hanging up his gloves for good but has previously expressed a reluctance to fight behind closed doors amid the Covid-19 pandemic, preferring to wait until fans return.

His new role working with the WBC certainly points to the former unified world champion putting things in place for when he officially retires.

Khan has won 34 of his 39 professional fights.