Kid Khan believes he can do it

Amir Khan says his real goal is a gold medal in 2008 but the 17-year-old, who is too young to fight in the senior ranks in Britain, admits that as he is in Athens he might as well finish the job.

Amir Khan says his real goal is a gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics but the 17-year-old, who is too young to fight in the senior ranks in Britain, admits that as he is here in Athens he might as well finish the job.

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British boxing officials hurried him into their Olympic side when Pakistan said they would be interested in taking the son of a Pakistani-born scrap metal dealer from Bolton in northern England.

He has now become the youngest Olympic boxing medal winner in half a century by qualifying for the semi-finals which guarantees at least a bronze.

And he believes he can go all the way to become the youngest Olympic champion since Floyd Patterson at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.

Khan fights Kazakhstan's Serik Yeleuov on Friday for a place in Sunday's final.

The man standing in his way on Sunday is someone almost twice his age.

Mario Kindelan, the 33-year-old Cuban defending champion, is rated the best pound-for-pound amateur boxer.

Kindelan, a three-time world champion, fights Murat Krachev of Russia in his semi-final.

"It's great just winning a bronze medal," said Khan. "When I came here I was just proud to be a 17-year-old representing Great Britain, thinking about the next Olympics but now I feel I can get into the finals.

"The pressure is off me now and I'll be a lot more relaxed, more cool-headed. I'll get better."

He added: "It's a dream come true. Everyone wanted to see me on the podium and I want to show everyone that I'm the best in the world.

British coach Terry Edwards said: "Amir came for the experience and he has proved himself. I am now sure that he can go all the way."

But Edwards is also keen to protect his boxer.

"He's just come out of the juniors and already he is being bracketed in the same league as Muhammad Ali," said Edwards.

Ali won Olympic light heavyweight gold in Rome in 1960 as an 18-year-old.

Edwards points out that Khan, a cousin of England cricket international fast bowler Sajid Mahmood, lost to Kindelan in the Acropolis Cup in this same Peristeri Hall in May.

"Sometimes I'm aghast at what I hear and read. Amir has his feet on the ground and he will decide on his future when the time is right," Edwards said.

But if he beats Kindelan, Khan could be described as the greatest talent to emerge from the Olympic ring since Sugar Ray Leonard 28 years ago in Montreal.

Former champions in Khan's category have included world champions Oscar de la Hoya and Pernell Whitaker.