Bradford Yorkshire boxing champion Khunais Khan on his mission

Girlington teenager Khunais Khan is a three times Yorkshire champion as well as a North West and Merseyside champion.

When he was just six years old, he was nicknamed ‘King Khan’ and predicted to be a success by the late Brendan Ingle at his world-famous gym in Sheffield.

Outside the ring, Khunais dreams of speaking to youngsters in the city’s schools and community centres to share his “knives down, gloves up” mantra.

It comes ahead of Khunais’ major fight in a quarter final match in Newcastle.

Back when Khunais Khan was at the start of his boxing career at six years old (Image: Newsquest)

Khunais said: “In the future, I would like to be on Sky Sports and be the best pound for pound world champion boxer there has ever been.

“I want to inspire kids out there who don't get much support to do boxing. It teaches not only how to defend yourself, it teaches you discipline. I'm trying to keep the community safe, instead of carrying a knife, do boxing. Knives down, gloves up.

“Boxing is a really hard sport but if you want to be the best you have to train hard to get to where you want to be. I really enjoy being in the ring so I can prove to everyone I am the best and I will be world champion one day.”

Dad and coach Ismael Khan, founder of The Purge Boxing Academy, has been training his son since he was five years old.

What started out as a hobby has since become his son’s purpose in life.

Boxer Khunais Khan with his dad and coach Ismael Khan, founder of The Purge Boxing Academy (Image: Newsquest)

Ismael, who used to box himself at Bradford Police Boys' Club, said: “As a father I’m really proud of him and what he’s achieved and how far he’s got in his boxing career.

“There’s a lot of crimes happening with young kids on the streets, smoking, hanging round on street corners. It helps him stay away from those things.

“No one understands their kids suffer from depression. Their parents don’t realise. They’re not getting support from school. He talks to a lot of kids and he’s took a few to go boxing.

“Each time he’s going into assembly with his certificates and showing what he’s achieved, they’re asking questions about boxing.

"When they see him they come up to him themselves. He says, ‘Everything’s hard in life, it’s hard to pass your exams’. When we went to London they robbed him clean, he didn’t want to box again. He went back to the gym again.

“Getting into the gym and having the mindset, taking the anger out at the gym, it keeps them off the street and committing crime.

“It doesn’t have to be boxing. Some people have football, ballet.

“The young kids see these professionals on TV – Amir Khan, Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury – they think this is where they got their name, had a better life, got a better future for their kids.

Boxer Khunais Khan wraps his hands up and gets ready to fight in the ring (Image: Newsquest)

"When I was young at the Police Boys’ Club, I was boxing and it kept me away from the streets and bad things.”

Khunais is sponsored by Mohbeen Hussain of Queensbury-based GDPR Tuition.

So far, the young fighter’s career has taken him to boxing matches across the UK, including London.

Khunais Khan with some of his boxing medals and certificates (Image: Newsquest)

When his dad steps away from coaching duty, Mo Patel, Purge Boxing Academy’s head coach, leads the way.

Ismael said: “Not only being his coach but as a father I’m proud of him and what he’s achieved. I don’t have to push him. He wakes up, goes for his 5k, he’s training constantly five days a week without fail. He has one to two days rest on weekends. He’s at the school. He’s at the gym. I can’t ask for anything more of him.

“I took him sparring in Huddersfield. He was sparring a guy who was 16 years old and he was absolutely excellent.

Girlington teenager Khunais Khan with his dad and coach Ismael Khan (Image: Newsquest, Mike Simmonds)

“We want to start working with schools. Some schools don’t work with kids on boxing. I want to go around schools with him and let the other kids know that the street life is no good.

“I’m very proud of my boy.”

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