Sahil Khan crowned king of the Palace with Haringey Cup win
Sahil Khan proved age was no barrier to claim the biggest prize of his burgeoning boxing career.
The talented fighter, from Dudley, powered his way to gold at the prestigious Haringey Box Cup event in London’s Alexandra Palace.
After his purposed quarter-final opponent pulled out, Khan made light work of his counterpart from Wokingham Boxing Club in the semi to book a place in the final on a unanimous decision.
And Khan, against rivals up to two years his senior as the youngest in the age category, proved far too good for one of the competition’s favourites, multi-national champion Kyle Quinn, of Hoddesdon Boxing Academy.
Merridale Boxing Club starlet Khan’s latest triumph – an extremely rare feat at youth level in the West Midlands – has convinced him, dad Ifraz and the club’s coaches that the sky is the limit.
“He won gold on another unanimous after giving him (Quinn) a standing eight count,” said proud dad Ifraz.
“He just had too much for the other kids. He’s been on the top of his game.
“There were 11 entries in his age and when he came in it dropped to seven, but he was still fighting 18-year-olds and is only 16.
“There were clubs from Australia and Canada there, and some of the best in Europe.
“And I don’t think a local kid from the West Midlands has won the youth section before.
“As a club Merridale are so proud. It’s his sixth gold medal but his biggest. I can’t believe what he’s achieved in such a short space of time.
“The sky is the limit for him. He trains like an athlete and knows to stay humble.”
Khan, 16, is coached by Kadir Khan and Mick Smith at the Wolverhampton club.
He attends The Link Academy, and has recently been training with England in York and other parts of the country.
He has also won gold at the Monkstown Cup in Ireland, as well as the National Association of Girls and Boys Community (NAGBC) Championships and a Three Nations success.
But the latest success tops the lot for Khan – whose long-term aim is to make the Commonwealth Games squad in 2022.
Boxing star Anthony Joshua, a two-time winner before turning pro, once labelled the Haringey Cup as ‘Europe’s biggest international competition’.
“The club has never had a win at Haringey before,” added Ifraz. “We’re all so proud. Whenever we put him in he comes out and wins, even as an underdog in an event like this.”
Khan hopes to be involved in the upcoming European Selection event in Bulgaria in August – for which selections are decided next month – before the national championships in November.
