Former Unified Light-welterweight world champion Amir Khan says he’s eager to return to Ghana for another major boxing event after experiencing the country’s unmatched passion for the sport.

Khan was in Accra as a partner of Sharaf Mahama’s Legacy RISE Promotions for the Battle of the Beats boxing night, held on Friday, June 13.

The event, which showcased rising talent, drew a huge crowd - clear evidence, according to Khan, that Ghana is ready for more world-class boxing nights.

“The future is to hold many more events,” Khan told Joy Sports’ Nathaniel Attoh in an exclusive interview.

“I had a really good meeting with the team. Sharaf and everybody’s looking very excited to make it happen. As long as the sponsors keep coming in, we can keep putting on amazing shows for Ghanaians.”

Khan, who runs boxing academies and promotions in the UK and the Middle East, believes Ghana has the raw ingredients, talent, energy, and a proud boxing tradition - to reclaim its place on the world boxing map.

But for the sport to truly grow, he believes investment must start at the grassroots level.

“We are giving opportunities to more Ghanaian boxers to get involved in boxing. We should open many more academies and start from the grassroots level. I believe that one day, Ghana can become the center of boxing in Africa.”

Despite the electric atmosphere at the Bukom Boxing Arena, Khan expressed concern over the thousands of fans who couldn’t get inside due to space limitations. He’s already calling for the next event to be staged in a much larger venue.

“I really think the next one will be around November or December to close the year. I believe it has to be in a stadium,” he said.

“We had the whole place packed, and there were thousands of people outside calling my name, saying they wanted to come in. But I told them they couldn’t, for security reasons. I felt bad for them.”

The next edition of Battle of the Beats is set to take place later this year—with expectations already sky-high.

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