THE TIMING of Amir Khan's entry into the professional boxing ranks seems almost divine. Just as the theory of Britain as a tolerant and stable multi-cultural society is being tested by the London bombings, the boy has flowered into a man and a symbol of hope for race relations in this country. It is unfair to saddle anyone, especially one so young, with such responsibility, but it is also unavoidable and Khan is happy to enter into the debate. While most 18-year-olds would choose rap music for their ring walk, Khan opted for Land of Hope and Glory, and waved a Union Jack with 'London' written on it, for his professional debut last Saturday. After his swift demolition of London's David Bailey, he spoke of his shock at the recent atrocities and his ambition "to bring the races together." Impressive stuff from one so young and it is becoming clear that Khan is a special person, in and out of the ring. He attends his local mosque, reads the Qur'an and expects to enter into an arranged marriage in time. He also supports his local football team, cites fish and chips as his favourite food, while his dad wears a union jack waistcoat. He is handsome, charming, modest, yet endearingly confident, does not drink and does not smoke. Kids of all races will want to be like him and men and women of all races will want their kids to be like him. At the Bolton Arena on Saturday, groups of Asians waved union jacks and engaged in good-humoured banter with Bailey's voluble contingent. "There's only one David Bailey", sang the Londoners, obviously too young to remember a certain photographer of note. The fight itself was over in a flash, Bailey rushing Khan from the opening bell and gorging on leather for the next 106 seconds. Khan did all that was expected of him, shrugging off Bailey's early charge and showing good hand-speed and punching power before the referee had seen enough. "For a debut, you couldn't ask for anything better and you've got the best to come," said Khan's promoter Frank Warren. "By the time he's 21, they'll be strapping a belt round his waist. It's going to be a great journey for British boxing. "I was involved in the early careers of Naseem Hamed, Nigel Benn and Ricky Hatton and none of them crossed over to the news pages at this stage. "Whether he likes it or not he's a celebrity and he could become a world star. "He's a sensible lad, he's not arrogant or rude, he's got a good family and advisors around him and it's going to be a great ride." Judging by the capacity crowd at the Bolton Arena, it is a ride many people want to be on, black, white, Muslim or otherwise. There will be cynics who say sport and politics don't mix, that sport changes nothing. But Khan was as much a politician in the ring against Bailey as he was a boxer, proof that young British Muslims can be proud of their country and make the wider British public proud of them. Khan dedicated his win over Bailey to the victims of the London bombings. "We need to bring the races together. It was upsetting and my friends and family were upset. "We need people to help stop things like the London bombs and hopefully I can be one of them. I'll do anything." Khan's promoter Frank Warren said Khan could improve race relations in Britain. "I looked at some of the flags being waved in the arena and all the people of different ethnic backgrounds and realised Amir can bring everyone together," said Warren. "Politicians should use people like Amir who youngsters can identify with."
