03 October 2004	Sunday	17 Shaban 1425

LONDON, Oct 2: Olympic silver medallist Amir Khan will meet boxing promoter Frank Warren with one topic on the agenda - his future.

The British boxing prodigy insisted after the Athens Games that he wanted to retain his amateur status with a view to winning a gold medal, just like his hero Muhammed Ali, at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. But Warren will try to convince the 17-year-old lightweight that his best option is to turn professional in the near future to exploit the financial rewards awaiting his prodigious talent.

The boxer from Bolton was due to be a guest of Warren's at Friday's IBF light welterweight fight between Ricky Hattonand the Delaware boxer Mike Stewart in Manchester.

Warren told BBC Radio ahead of the meeting: "My offer is not dependent on him turning professional straight away. "He'd be a great addition to the professional ranks.

"I'm not going to try to persuade him. I'll make him an offer and it's up to him. "By the time the Beijing Games come around he could be world champion and make his financial future secure."

Warren wants to give Amir the chance to cash in following his performance in Athens in a similar way to teenage football star Wayne Rooney who moved from Everton to Manchester United for a fee of £30 million.

In an attempt to delay Amir turning pro the British Amateur Boxing Association revealed last week it was ready to offer him a package worth £70,000(US$126,000) a year.-AFP