BOLTON boxing superstar Amir Khan is looking forward to celebrating Christmas with his wife and baby daughter — and is planning to dress up as Father Christmas for the occasion.

Amir said that although he is a Muslim and does not celebrate the festival on religious grounds, he thinks it is important for his family, especially baby Lamysah, that they enjoy Christmas.

He was speaking during an impromptu training session that he put on for local youngsters at his Halliwell gym, Gloves, which saw scores of budding boxers come for some training and an insight into what it takes to be a champion fighter.

Amir, who recently defeated Devon Alexander in a welterweight fight in Las Vegas, said he could now reflect on “one of his best ever years.”

He said: “It has been a great year, I have done so much with launching my new charity foundation, the birth of my daughter, winning two great fights and being within touching distance of a fight with Floyd Mayweather, let’s hope next year can be even better.”

“The birth of my daughter this year was the biggest present I got and she has motivated me to do better in boxing, she has given me that extra drive.”

He said that his family’s Muslim faith does not mean that there won’t be a Christmas celebration in the Khan household this year, adding: “Being Muslim, we don’t celebrate Christmas in that way but we do enjoy it, we live in England and I think it is important to do what is done here, this is where I was born.

“So yes I have bought my little girl a Christmas present and I am not going to reveal what it is but I can say I will be dressed up as Santa Claus around the house on Christmas Day so she is going to get to see Santa.

“But I won’t be spoiling her, I want my kids to be disciplined, obviously one day they will be going to school and I want them to be normal and not spoilt — these are important values that my family has taught me.”

The 28-year-old said it is always a pleasure coming to see local youngsters at his gym.

He added: “I am from Bolton and it is all about coming back to your roots, where I begun, I love spending time here with the local kids and supporting them

“I have seen a lot of talent here tonight and I can’t believe how many kids turned up — its good to be around them and I am sure some of these guys can go all the way and become champions in the future like me.”