Amir Khan. AFP FILE PHOTO
LONDON—Britain’s Amir Khan Tuesday said he would have waited before turning professional if he’d known London would host the Olympic Games this year.
Khan, who launched his professional career after winning lightweight silver at Athens 2004, said he was a “little bit jealous” of the boxers fighting in London.
“Yeah, 100 percent I miss it. If I had known in 2004 that the Olympics would be in England, I’m still 25, I could have waited (to turn professional) because that’s how much the Olympics means to me,” he said.
“I’m a little bit jealous for the Olympians because I can’t be a part of it,” added Khan, who suffered a heavy defeat to America’s Danny Garcia this month in Las Vegas.
“I would swap everything for the Olympic Games. It’s the Olympics that made me, so I will never forget that. And to be at the Olympics in London, that’s even bigger, so yeah, I’d swap anything to be in this position.”