AMIR KHAN COULD BE BUSHWHACKED

AMIR KHAN might feel the wrath of former US President George W Bush if he beats Dmitry Salita next month.

Bush is one of the New Yorker's biggest fans after inviting him to a White House party almost three years ago.

Salita, 27, a Ukrainian-born Jew who met Bush at a Chanukah festival, challenges for Khan's WBA lightwelterweight crown at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena on December 5.

He said: "Boxing has given me the opportunity to meet some extraordinary people, and even President George Bush which was incredible.

"He wished me a lot of luck and told me he would follow me throughout my career, which is great to know.

"It was a great honour. I am living the American dream and meeting the President was very far-fetched for me - a few years ago when I was just one of a bunch hitting a heavy bag in a boxing club."

And Bush, who was once challenged to a boxing match by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, must be liking what he sees.

Salita, unbeaten in 31 fights, added: "I emigrated to America when I was a young boy. My family was on welfare and struggling to get by.

"A few years later I get the chance to meet the President. To me it shows the greatness of America. It is truly a land of opportunity.

"There is a certain strong positive aura at the White House and it felt like a palace.

"The security was tight but not where it made you feel uncomfortable. It was similar to being screened at an airport but the lines were a lot smaller. One thing that stood out in my mind - the napkins were so fine and so thick they seemed like towels. I took one for a souvenir."

Salita and his family fled Ukraine when he was nine, victims of rampant anti-Semitism, but their problems weren't over immediately.

Dmitry's mother Lyudmila lost her battle with cancer and the youngster was also being bullied at school in Brooklyn.

Salita, who spent nights sleeping in a chair next to his mother's hospital bed, even used her maiden name instead of his father's surname, Lekhtman, to deter hate mobs.

The tough fighter, who now speaks with a pronounced Big Apple twang, admitted: "There were some bullying issues. Outside of boxing I didn't have any friends that I hung out with. After school I would do my homework and go to training. My childhood was in the gym. I was travelling throughout the country to all different tournaments so my American success story at this stage of my life has been boxing.

"My father would wake me up at 6am and I would go running.

"The school was across the street and I would skip lunch. School lunches are not so healthy. I would miss them because I would have weight to make for an amateur competition. I would have an apple and nuts instead of pizza, hamburger and French fries.

"Boxing is unlike any other sport. You cannot play boxing.

Admiration

"If you play boxing then you get hurt even as an amateur.

"As a kid I was always in a very competitive environment, even the training sessions were do or die."

Charming Salita is full of admiration for Khan and the Bolton star's trainer, world renowned trainer Freddie Roach.

But he has warned the champion will be punching fresh air when they clash, promising: "As Willie Pep said, 'He who hits and runs today will live to see another day'.

"My trainer always stressed defence, finesse and good boxing. I haven't been in a lot of tough fights where I've taken big punches and I slip and slide.

"This is the first really tough fight. There have been fights you don't expect to be tough and then end up being tough, but I expect this to be tough."

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