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Inside Amir Khan’s incredible 20-year body transformation from weedy kid at Olympics to bulking unified champion

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AMIR KHAN bust onto the British boxing scene as fresh-faced teenager – and has remained there ever since.

Bolton’s boxing hero became a household name at just the age of 17 as he brought back a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

British boxing legend Amir KhanCredit: Mikey Williams

It set him up for a blockbuster career that involved highs, lows and everything in between.

Here, SunSport takes a look back and Khan’s journey from Olympic hopeful to fully-fledged superstar.

Olympic Games, 2004

Khan was Team GB’s only boxing representative in Greece and the nation’s hopes rested solely on his shoulders.

But he did the unthinkable and reached the lightweight final, losing to Cuban champ Mario Kindelan.

Khan would avenge the loss a year later, in an unprecedented televised amateur rematch which was viewed by SIX MILLION on ITV.

He turned professional soon after and was already a star in the making.

Amir Khan in in the 2004 OlympicsCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

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Lightweight

Khan turned professional at the 135lb lightweight limit (9st 9lb) and quickly rose through the ranks.

He was on course for world title honours until a shock 2008 loss to unknown Colombian Breidis Prescott.

Prescott scored a stunning knockout in the first round and kickstarted the question marks surrounding Khan’s chin.

Khan did return with two more wins at lightweight, but then moved up to light-welterweight.

Amir Khan started his professional career at lightweightCredit: PA:Press Association

Light-welterweight

His first fight at the 140lb (10st) division was a world title shot against Ukrainian Andreas Kotelnik for the WBA title.

It proved one of Khan’s greatest ever performances, showing dazzling speed to win the belt on points.

Khan would go on to have eight more fights at the weight, unifying the titles with a win over American legend Zab Judah.

But defeats to Lamont Peterson – who failed a post-fight drug test – and Danny Garcia – by brutal KO – saw Khan move up in weight soon after.

Amir Khan was world champion at light-welterweightCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun

Welterweight

Chasing super-fights with boxing icons Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, Khan stepped up to 147lb (10st 7lb).

But he failed in those pursuits, despite sharing the ring with the likes of Luis Collazo, Devon Alexander and Chris Algieri.

Khan’s only loss at the weight came in 2019 against current WBO champ Terence Crawford.

Despite years of talk, Khan was also unable to agree terms with long-time rival Kell Brook, despite the pair sharing the same weight class.

Amir Khan weighing in to fight Terence Crawford at welterweightCredit: Reuters

Middleweight

Khan in 2016 stunned the boxing public when he signed to fight Mexican powerhouse Canelo Alvarez for the WBC middleweight title.

The fight was actually contested at a 155lb (11st) catchweight, just 1lb under the light-middleweight limit.

Nevertheless, Canelo’s size and power proved too decisive and Khan was savagely knocked out in round five with a massive right hand.

Khan claimed Alvarez rehydrated to 13st 3lb the day after their weigh in, while he only entered the ring at 11st 2lb, marking a massive size difference.

Canelo Alvarez and Amir Khan before their fightCredit: AFP or licensors

Kell Brook catchweight

With the rivals entering the twilight of their careers, they finally agreed terms to fight.

But it came at a cost for Brook, who has always struggled to make the welterweight limit.

Khan suggested a catchweight of 149lb (10st 6lb) which is only 2lb above the welterweight mark.

And for every lb either fighter potentially misses weight by, a contracted penalty of £100,000 will be in place.

Amir Khan ahead of his fight with Kell BrookCredit: INSTAGRAM

Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk

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