10 February 2005	Thursday	30 Zilhaj 1425

LONDON, Feb 9: Amir Khan is in line for a rematch against Mario Kindelan, the man who denied him Olympic gold in Athens last summer.

Britain's Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) confirmed on Tuesday that a deal had been struck for a Four Nations team to fight the powerful Cubans in Liverpool, north-west England, in April.

That could mean a return clash between Amir and Kindelan, the legendary Cuban lightweight who beat the Bolton teenager 30-22 in their Olympic final.

Kindelan, unbeaten in major competitions since 1999, announced his retirement after beating Amirn but subsequently told Cuban media he'd changed his mind and would box on.

Amir, who overcame a knockdown and a bloody nose to make a winning start on his ABA Championships debut in Preston, near his home north-west England town of Bolton, on Monday, said he was delighted to hear Kindelan might be coming.

"There are rumours that Kindelan is coming in April so 2005, is going to be as busy as ever."

The 18-year-old Amir intends to remain at the lightweight limit of 60kgs for international competition makes a re-match against Kindelan to take place and, were it to take place, the bout would arguably be the biggest in British amateur boxing history since London staged the Olympic Games in 1948.

However, he is set to continue at the higher light-welterweight limit for domestic bouts in a bid to gain more experience despite an ABA senior debut where he was floored in the fourth round of his opening contest against Manchester's Craig Watson.

"I've been boxing at 60kgs for three years and won all the championships so I wanted to go up and box stronger lads," he said.

"Internationally I will still box at 60kgs because I can still make the weight. But I am moving up in the ABAs for experience.

"I was not surprised by what happened because I spar with a lot of 64kg lads in my gym so I knew they would have a lot more power."

Amir said he would learn the lessons of his tough night against Watson and Liam Dorian, who gave him trouble before the favourite clinched a lopsided points win. "I want to go all the way in every competition in the world and I want to win it.

"This weight gets me more focused and gives me that extra boost to go out there and train because I've gone up to fight lads who can hit a bit."

Amir said he hoped he would be in better form for the north-west counties finals in Liverpool on Feb 18. "It was a case of adapting and hopefully in Liverpool I can box a bit better. I think I can go out there and win the Championships."

Cuba, who took five boxing golds at Athens, is the most successful amateur boxing nation in history, having claimed 32 Olympic golds going back to the first of heavyweight great Teofilio Stevenson's three titles in Munich in 1972.-AFP