Khan defeated in National Youth Boxing semi-final

"Mighty" Mehran Khan

Having comfortably beat Aaron Graham of Paddy Johns Boxing Club on Friday 12 February to reach the National Youth Boxing semi-finals, 17-year-old 'Mighty' Mehran Khan, of Hamer ABC, lost to Omar Agustine (the eventual National Champion) of Earlsfield ABC, on Saturday 13 February, in a disappointing contest that was tarnished by the referees antics.

On the sound of the first bell the Agustine did exactly as the Hamer team expected when he stormed over to Khan with relentless swinging arms. Khan used what he thought were clever tactics by unloading a swift one-two punch combinations at Agustine's on-coming head before tying him up so that he couldn't swing his clubbing arms but the referee was quick to constantly stop the contest and administer a finger wagging warnings at Khan for holding. Agustine constantly rushed in at Khan while taking punches to his head before unloading swinging punches of his own that hit Khan on the top and back of his head while Agustine also landed legitimate punches. Agustine's style tormented Khan, yet when he tried to push off the Earlsfield boxer to find his range, Khan was constantly warned for pushing.

The Hamer team felt very comfortable about the first round and actually thought Khan had just sneaked it. Hamer coach Steven Connellan expected Agustine to tire after using so much energy so he told Khan to take the centre of the ring and try and keep his opponent at bay with his long right hand punch.

The bell rang for round two and immediately the Hamer team knew that they were in trouble when the referee began to warn Mehran for every kind of infringement.

The referee put Khan off his game plan while Agustine used his incredible stamina and work rate to keep on Khan's toes and throw continuous clubbing punches to his head and body. Agustine had great strength and tremendous endurance. He also seemed oblivious to the punches thrown at him as he constantly ploughed forward with boundless energy.

Khan was losing the round but he was still in the fight and he caught his opponent in the middle of the ring with a powerful right hand to the chin that had Agustine clearly shaken for everyone to see, however, to the astonishment of the Hamer corner, the referee jumped in and gave Khan a public warning for slapping.

The stop, start bout continued and Agustine knocked Khan's mouth guard out and the Hamer youth was immediately given another public warning by the referee. On three occasions the referee called a halt to the bout to administer a warning to Khan and Agustine caught his opponent with punches to the back and top of his head after each call to stop boxing. Agustine was warned on each occasion yet he was never given a public warning.

The Hamer team could not believe the "antics the referee" and they sent Khan out for the third and last round knowing he had no chance of winning the contest.

To his credit Khan continued to fight and he caught Agustine on occasion but the referee continued to play a major part in the contest as he constantly stopped the bout.

Agustine relentlessly used clubbing punches when he was in close quarters with Khan. He forced Khan into the neutral corner and threw a swinging, clubbing punch to the top of Khan's head, but incredibly the referee stepped in to humiliate Khan further by stopping the contest in Agustine's favour.

Khan held his arms out in protest as he was led to his own corner by the referee and the silence of the stunned crowd told the story.

The Hamer team were angry and head coach Steven Connellan let the referee know of his disappointment, but it fell on deaf ears.

Back in the changing room Khan was constantly approached by boxers and coaches telling him of their bewilderment at the actions of the referee.

Hamer coach Alan Bacon said: "If the referee had allowed the contest to continue without any interference from him then Mehran would still have had an enormous task ahead of him in Agustine, who was a relentless warrior who came to fight.

“We didn't expect the boundless energy levels he showed and the constant non-stop work-rate and pressure he put on Mehran.

“Because of the referee's incessant interfering of the bout we will always have that niggling doubt because Mehran was never given the opportunity to use his game plan. Still what a great achievement he has done for this club and his town of Rochdale by reaching the last four elite boxers in the whole country."