How Khan became British boxing's golden boy

A glittering professional career has led Amir Khan to Saturday's showdown with Kell Brook, but it was the Bolton protégé's short yet stunning stint in the amateurs that enabled him to become the golden boy of British boxing.

Khan will meet Brook in a grudge match at Manchester Arena on Saturday as the pair look to settle a lengthy rivalry, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

While both became world champions during their elite professional careers, it was Khan who became a household name as an amateur by winning a silver medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, aged just 17.

British boxing coach Terry Edwards, who was in Khan's corner in Athens, has told Sky Sports News in an exclusive interview how Team GB almost lost him to Pakistan, before heated debates between the fighter's management and coaches led to both ups and downs on the road to the Olympics.

Edwards recalls first being told about a 15-year-old Khan by British performance director Ian Irwin.

"I said, 'yeah, but he's a junior,'" Edwards said. "He said, 'yeah, but he wants to go to a qualifier for the Olympics and if we don't pick him, he's going to go through Pakistan.'

"I'll tell you what we'll do, we'll bring him into the senior squad, and I'll have a look at him and work with him, and let's see what happens."

With his talent obvious, Edwards continued to work with Khan. While the 15-year-old was dominant against other teenagers, there were initial struggles against more seasoned amateurs.

"When Khan fought someone of his own age, he hit them, they went down or they ran away," Edwards said. "But a 24-year-old may not be as skilful, or as technical as Khan, but they stand there and they take it and they hit you back."

At the start of 2003, with Khan having turned