By ROB HARRIS, AP Sports Writer
MANCHESTER, England (AP)—Preparations for Amir Khan’s first world title fight were disrupted after the English boxer was questioned by police over a collision with a cyclist while driving.
Police on Tuesday cleared Khan of responsibility for the accident, which happened Sunday night in his hometown of Bolton, near Manchester.
The 22-year-old cyclist suffered a head injury and was taken to a hospital, although police don’t believe his injuries are serious.
“Several witnesses at the scene have been interviewed,” Greater Manchester Police said. “The driver was not at fault in the collision, and no further action will be taken on this matter.”The incident is an unwelcome distraction for the 22-year-old Khan ahead of Saturday’s WBA world welterweight title bout with Andreas Kotelnik. On Monday, Khan described his first world title fight as a career defining moment.
“I’ve got a big fight in front of me now—this is a fight that is going to catapult me to the bigger fights,” Khan said. “I need to win this fight to take me to the next level.
“This is the biggest fight at the moment—for a world title—then I can plan out where I want to go from there. There’s a lot of pressure on me and I need to win this fight to get me to the places I want to get to.”
For that, Khan needs to captivate American television audiences.
“That’s a big thing for me—more attention in America, and then I’ll go over there and fight,” he said. “Everyone’s dream is to fight in Vegas and I want to fight in Vegas.”
