The Amir Khan effect: First coach Mick Jelley and boxers he has inspired on fighter's legacy

Amir Khan underlined his position as one of British boxing's biggest draws after more than 20,000 tickets for his upcoming fight against Kell Brook sold out in a matter of minutes.

Bury Defence Academy chairman Ifti Ahmed puts that response down to the «Amir Khan effect».

It is a phenomenon he has witnessed first-hand since welcoming Bury Amateur Boxing Club, run by Khan's first coach Mick Jelley, to share the gym of his combat sports charity last May.

«We noticed as soon as we brought boxing here there was a surge in demand,» said Ahmed, whose gym in Lord Street, Bury — in premises owned by the neighbouring Jamia Khizra Mosque — had previously only offered wrestling and martial arts training.

«From our point of view, that response has come from the fantastic reputation Mick has in the heart of the Muslim community because of what he achieved with Amir Khan.

»Amir is seen as someone local. Someone who came from a very humble, working-class background. He got into boxing, was dedicated and, through Mick, reached fantastic heights.

«A lot of young lads in this local area see him as an inspiration — someone whose footsteps they can follow in.»

The level of interest in this month's Khan-Brook fight at the Manchester Arena could well point to something deeper than the added spice of a grudge match years in the making.

It is fair to say that Khan's pro record is not significant enough in itself to justify such staunch support.

Despite unifying the WBA and IBF light-welterweight world titles, losses to Breidis Prescott, Lamont Petersen and Danny Garcia checked Khan's rise to the very top.

And while recent fights have included big pay-days against Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Terence Crawford, both ended in tame sixth-round defeats.

Yet for