Amir Khan could not resist firing a triumphant jab at Great Britain’s boxing selectors after watching his younger brother Haroon guarantee a Commonwealth Games medal at the Talkatora Stadium in Delhi.
Haroon, representing Pakistan, beat Welshman Andrew Selby on countback after a 3-3 draw to move into the semi-finals and apparently vindicate his belief that he was snubbed for the GB squad of which Selby is a part.
Amir, currently training in the Philippines with Manny Pacquiao, posted on his Twitter page: “The England selectors didn’t pick my brother.. but guess what he is in the quarter-finals and the English boxer is OUT.”
But angry GB head coach Rob McCracken, who had seen Selby beat England’s Tommy Stubbs in the previous round, retorted: “It doesn’t prove anything. Khalid Yafai is the number one flyweight in England and he isn’t here.”
And Yafai, ruled out of the Games by an elbow injury, said from his home in Birmingham: “He did well to beat Selby but I’d 100 per cent do a job on him. I’d love to fight Haroon back in England, but to be honest he’d just get hurt.”
Khan performed above expectations to beat European bronze medallist Selby, looking more loose and powerful than an opponent who looked to be struggling after boiling down from his usual 54kg category.
Selby’s cleverer shots lacked snap and although he pegged Khan back three times it was Khan who earned the verdict via countback – the totals after the highest and lowest scores among the five judges are disregarded.
Khan said: “This is what I wanted to do – get a medal and beat a lad from the Great Britain podium squad. I’ve don
