Lewis urges Khan to stay amateur

Lennox Lewis today told British boxing sensation Amir Khan to follow his example and stay amateur in the hope of winning an Olympic gold medal in 2008,

The former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world spoke out after Khan's advisers claimed the Athens silver medallist could be forced to turn professional if the Amateur Boxing Association failed to offer sufficient financial support for the teenager.

Asif Vali, part of Khan's new management team, warned that meetings with professional

promoters would take place if the ABA had not come up with a concrete offer by the end of the week.

Frank Warren, Britain's leading professional promoter, has already claimed that Khan could be a world champion and millionaire by the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing if he was to leave the amateur ranks now.

But Lewis advised the 17-yearold lightweight to stay amateur. He said: "There is still so much to learn and so much to gain. If you turn professional and lose one fight you're history.

"I was in the same situation as Khan is now because I went into the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and in my second fight I lost against Tyrell Biggs.

"At that time some promoters and managers came and said I should turn professional. But I realised I was still young so I chose to stay amateur for four more years."

The plan worked because Lewis, then fighting for Canada, won the super-heavyweight gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Games.

He said: "That was my ticket to the professionals. It is difficult to resist those offers coming to Khan now. But if you have certain goals and good people around you, especially solid family support, he'll know the right decision."