By Mark Vester
The UK media has gone wild since WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan told the press "I know if, maybe, I was a white English fighter, I would be a superstar in Britain." The quote has caused a backlash of racism and other claims against Khan's character.
Khan's father Shah spoke with the BBC and he disagreed with his son's comments - “I don't agree with it to tell you the truth. I don't know why he made that comment."
Promoter Frank Warren says the media took advantage of Khan's naivety. He doesn't understand why the media continues to focus on Khan's religious beliefs [as a Muslim].
“I'm really disappointed that people keep asking Amir these questions. We've managed to keep race and religion out of this fight and I find it offensive and sad. People don't ask David Haye what it's like to be black. They don't ask Catholic fighters about the problems in Northern Ireland. When James Degale got booed, they didn't put it down to racism," Warren told The Bolton News.
"Amir is 22 and perhaps they are playing on his naivety. It must play on Amir's mind - why are people asking me this all the time? It's totally unfair on Amir, and it is very disappointing. Amir is a superstar. When he won the silver medal nine million people watched him. Nearly all the venues where he has fought have sold out. Amir is a great British fighter — end of story."
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