ATHENS, Aug. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- "Golden Boy" Amir Khan of Britain brought the world amateur boxing into new generation with a silver medal in the men's lightweight (60kg) category.

    The 17-year-old sensation could have become the youngest Olympic champion since American Floyd Patterson in 1952, but lost 30-22 to 33-year-old Mario Cesar Kindelan Mesa of Cuba in Sunday's Olympic boxing finals.

    Khan, a Bolton College student with major of sports development,breezed the Olympic rings with a storming run into the final on his first appearance in the world-level competition.

    "I'm happy to have got into the final at the age of 17 and boxed against the reigning Olympic and world champion," said Khan,who is labeled "the new Naz" after British professional boxer 'Prince' Naseem Hamed.

    After the contest, Kindelan talked to Khan and said that "you should stay amateur and would be the next Olympic and world champion".

    Khan took it seriously and told the press conference that "I amonly 17 and I want to stay amateur until I am 22, so I can gain more experience and grow strong."

    Khan started boxing at age of eight as his dad brought him to the gym to 'burn off excess energy'.

    He turned to competitive boxing at 11 and now he learned boxing with coach Mick Jelley in Bury Amateur Boxing Club in England.

    In what is very much a case of the pupil against the master on Sunday, the sensation of the Athens 2004 boxing tournament, Khan, opened the bout with a 4-3 narrow lead in the first round against the mighty Cuban.

    But Kindelan was simply too superior on strength and experience to his young rival, outscoring 11-5 and 8-5 respectively in the second and third round and wrapping up 30-22 after the four-round face-off.

    After the bout, the defending gold medalist and a triple world champion told the press conference that he decided to retire.

    "I will give an opportunity to the next generation of Cuban boxers. Now I want to become a boxing coach," said Kindelan.

    "Khan is a great boxer. If he does not turn professional, he will definitely conquer in amateur boxing," he added.

    Briton team coach Terry Edwards said: "Today he has been in thering against a boxing legend.

    "The one thing we cannot fastrack is maturity. He needs to gain experience." Enditem