OLYMPIC hero Amir Khan is set to become the face of British boxing writes David Magilton

The 17-year-old Bury Amateur Boxing Club fighter could feature in four amateur boxing shows to be shown by the BBC -- the only domestic boxing on terrestrial TV after December.

It is all part of a package planned by the Amateur Boxing Association to persuade Amir Khan to remain amateur -- a move they have backed by offering to invest five per cent of their turnover to support the teenager.

The sport's amateur governing body say they will do everything they can to keep the Olympic silver medalist from turning professional, and believe that a deal they are currently negotiating with the BBC, could provide the key.

Paul King, the ABA's director of development said that the package would be great for the sport and for Amir.

"This is the first time the ABA have put a package like this together," he said. "But we are a changing body, which we believe is going in the right direction. We will do everything we can to support him.

"We have been able to get finance from Sport England; we are pursuing money from Governmental bodies and have lined up a sports consultancy body, which would help in promotions, sponsorship and branding. We also want to help his education.

"The ABA is a small organisation but is prepared to invest five per cent of our overall turnover in Amir.

"But the most exciting aspect is with the BBC. It offers a great opportunity for him in the long term.

"The ABA is putting together a six to eight deal show with the BBC, and Amir could be in action on about four of them. They want Amir to be the face of boxing.

"I believe that if handled correctly up to the next Olympics Amir could possibly equal the earnings of a professional such as Richard Hatton.

"What Amir has to consider is that if he turns professional, 25 per cent of his earnings will go to the manager, 15 per cent to the trainer, then he has all the expenses on top of that. The only time he earns money is when he fights and from December there will be no professional boxing in this country on terrestrial television.

"We can provide him with massive exposure and if he stays until the next Olympics he will have the world at his feet."

ABA officials met in London with representatives of the Khan family to discuss what they could offer the Heaton student.

Amir's father Shajaad said: "They want to keep Amir in the amateur game, but we will have to think about what is on offer, when we see the figures."

The 17-year-old hit the headlines with his breathtaking performances in Athens and has already attracted a host of promoters wanting him to join the pro ranks.

England performance director Ian Irwin said that Amir has been a breath of fresh air to amateur boxing and wants him to represent his country for the next few years.

He said: "It is up to Amir to decide his future, but I hope he stays as an amateur.

"We know we cannot compete with the offers he will receive if he turns professional, but I believe there is a big package on offer to him to stay on as an amateur.

"As he is ranked in the top three in the world, he now qualifies for category A lottery funding, which is tax free, and the ABA have identified a sum of money over the next four years to cover his college fees.

"In addition to this, sponsorship deals can be arranged and he can be used for advertising purposes."