Saunders won’t let Khan off the hook

Jul 8 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

First he wants an Olympic medal, then a rematch with Amir Khan. Boxer Bradley Saunders tells Stuart Rayner about battling injury and his ambitious two-pronged mission

HAVING had an injury which ought to have ended his career before it really got going then recovering to become the first North East boxer to reach an Olympics, Bradley Saunders does not take no for an answer.

The Sedgefield fighter travels to China as part of what is widely reckoned to be Britain’s best Olympic squad with many pundits predicting a medal. A bronze at November’s World Championships and gold in May’s inaugural AIBA President’s Cup have raised expectations. But lurking in the back of Saunders’ mind is a second, more personal goal – to finally settle an old score with Amir Khan.

With dad Geoff a talented amateur-turned coach, mum Tracy secretary of South Durham ABC, and the family having its own gym, emergence as one of Britain’s leading light-welterweights was not surprising, but a weakness in his left hand nearly ended it all.

“When I was 17 I broke my hand and thought that was it for me,” admits Saunders, now 22. “I’d won about 15 national titles but I couldn’t see myself being in the position I’m in now, preparing for an Olympics. My mum and dad told me to dig in and it paid.

“It’s happened a few times, all in the same hand. Last year I was sparring when I did it and I had to get it operated on. It was giving me lots of gyp but we decided to wait until after the World Championships. I snapped two pins in my hand and bent the plate (from a previous operation).

“They took the plate out but left the pins in and it got infected. I had to have another operation and they used a machine to suck the infection out.”

Waiting until after the World Championships paid as victory over American Javier Molina in Chicago ensured Olympic qualification with extra recovery time. And beating Alexis Vastine to become only the fifth Briton to win a World Championship gong changed his mindset. “I’ve got to expect an Olympic medal. When I went to the World Championships I didn’t, but I got a bronze so it shows what I can do.”

He proved the rest helped by beating fellow World Championship bronze Masatsugu Kawachi and reigning Olympic light-welter champion Manus Boonjumnong in Tapei last month.

But while Olympic success is the pinnacle in many sports, in boxing it is often the route to a lucrative pro career and Saunders hopes that will see him reunited in the ring with Khan.

“I could look at the 2012 Olympics (there is talk of four-year funding for potential medalists) but I’ve had talks with people in the North East about turning professional,” he reveals. “I want to put the North East on the map. I’m proud to think of myself as the first boxer from the North East to qualify for the Olympics. (Sunderland’s) Tony Jeffries qualified a few days after me.

“I think my style would suit the pros. Every time I fight my approach is different. A lot of fighters are one-dimensional. I’m developing into a man. I used to think I was one before but I can see my muscles developing and I’m starting to feel my power.”

Khan and Audley Harrison claimed lightweight silver and heavyweight gold respectively at the last two Olympics. Thanks partly to them, there will be eight British fighters in Beijing. But Saunders and 16-year-old brother Geoff Junior are gunning for the Khan family.

“Amir Khan’s got a little brother, Haroon, and my brother’s beaten him a couple of times (in 2003 and 2005),” Bradley says proudly. “I fought Amir and was beaten by a point when I was 16. I think it was the closest he’d been run at that time. My dad said if the Khans are that good maybe they should fight the Saunders on the same card but they didn’t go for it. They had nothing to gain and too much to lose but it would be great if it happened one day.

“When I fought Amir I was more baffled by his speed than anything. It was just lots of shots – they weren’t hurting me but there was so many. As I piled towards him in the last round the bell went. It was a three-round contest, now I’m fighting over four. If it had been four I might have fancied my chances. When he was in the Olympic finals it did my head in because I knew I could do that.”