AMIR Khan has persuaded his Great Britain coach to let him challenge for the World Junior Championship this weekend.

The 17-year-old, who will be Great Britain's only Olympic boxing representative in Athens this summer, has flown out to Jeju, in South Korea, to represent England in the lightweight category after coach Ian Irwin relented to the Bury boxer's pleas.

Amir, who is keen to add a world title to his already impressive list of successes, was keen to compete as he will be too old to enter the championship when it is next held in two years time.

The Heaton boxer suffered a rare defeat when he lost on points to the Olympic and world champion Mario Kinderlan from Cuba two weeks ago in a pre-Olympic tournament in Athens.

That was meant to be Amir's last fight before the Olympics as Irwin had prepared a programme leading up to the Games, but the coach relented when he realised how much the Bury Boxing Club fighter wanted to compete.

Irwin said: "That is what he wanted to do, so after consultation with Amir, and his coaches I decided to let him go.

"He is a very talented boxer and although that plays a huge part in his success, there are other parts that need honing and that is what I wanted to concentrate on.

"Amir will have a short break after the competition and then begin his programme in Sheffield at the beginning of July.

"He will then fly out to Cyprus, return to Sheffield and then go back to the holding camp in Cyprus two weeks prior to the Games."

The competition runs from June 12-20 and Amir could have up to five fights if he reaches the final.

Meanwhile, Amir's younger brother Haroon, won a gold medal when he represented England for the second time in a four nations tournament at Everton.

The 13-year-old talent won both his 36kilo fights in impressive style.