Khan asks for ABA backing

Khan has said he wants to remain an amateur with the ABA planning to make a formal offer to the Olympic silver medallist on Friday.

But Khan's agent Asif Vali told Radio Five Live: "We don't know what is going on with the ABA until they come up with a firm offer in writing.

"Ultimately it will be Amir's choice and he will make the decision."

The ABA's development officer Paul King outlined the proposed deal for Khan to BBC Radio Five Live.

"It is an unprecedented offer that has never been produced before on an amateur basis, not even for Audley Harrison after he won gold in Sydney," King said.

"The offer on the table, through the assistance of Sport England, is for �70,000 per year, tax free, which over a four-year period amounts to �280,000."

Vali said Khan, his advisors and his coach all wanted to delay a move into the professional ranks until after a crack at gold at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

I would say (he should) stay an amateur because there's still so much to learn and so much to gain Lennox Lewis

But Vali has already held meetings with professional promoters. "We have to take into consideration what else is on offer," he said.

"We don't want Amir to be earning millions of pounds. He wishes to go to the Commonwealth Games and to Beijing.

"All we are asking is for the ABA to firm up their offer in writing."

Ex-world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis believes the Olympic silver medallist should stay as an amateur until after the next Games in 2008.

"I would say (he should) stay an amateur because there's still so much to learn and so much to gain," Lewis told Radio Five Live.

"Lose one fight (as a professional) and you are history," said Lewis, who won a gold medal in the 1988 Olympics.

"I think that (winning gold) helped me. That is your ticket to the pros."

Lewis said he did not subscribe to the view that Khan needed to turn pro to make the most of the commercial opportunities available.

"There is a lot of amateur money out there," said Lewis.

Vali said he welcomed Lewis' views.

"With what he has achieved in his career it is nice to have the experience of someone like Lennox so we will take what he has to say on board," he said.