KEIGHLEY boxer Muhammad Ali says he will try to live up to his famous namesake in the Olympics but insists the pressure is off him.

Ali admits his name – given to him by his boxing-loving dad Shahid – attracts extra attention, which is sure to increase as he bids for glory in Rio.

But the flyweight, who was given a rousing send-off by several hundred supporters at The Venue in Bradford before his departure for Brazil with the Great Britain squad last week, insists he will not be weighed down by expectations.

His qualification for the Olympics in April came after only a year at senior level and surpassed even his own ambitions, with Tokyo four years on a more likely original target.

Ali, who having just turned 20 is the youngest member of the 12-strong GB boxing squad, said: "There is no pressure on me. I’ve already exceeded my expectations (in reaching Rio) so whatever happens, it will be a bonus. Even just getting there is a bonus but now I want to go and win the gold medal.

"My name gets me extra attention media coverage. I've got to try to live up to it but I don’t feel any extra pressure. I’m used to it and I just get in the ring and do what I do."

While his namesake announced himself on the world stage by winning gold at the Olympics in Rome in 1960 – when he was still called Cassius Clay – it is Amir Khan who is more of an influence on the Keighley youngster, who has developed under the same coach, Mike Jelley, at Bury Amateur Boxing Club.

Ali is hoping to go one better than the silver medal which Khan – who has texted him good luck – won in Athens back in 2004.

The flyweight's confidence stems not just from double domestic gold, European silver and then winning his Olympic qualifying tournament in Turkey.

The former Bradford College student has also impressed against both last year's World Championship finalists Elvin Mamishzada and Yosbany Veitia.

He was holding his own against Mamishzada before his world quarter-final bout in Doha was stopped due to an eye injury, the Azerbaijan boxer going on to win the title.

And Ali also showed promise in last month's World Series Boxing final for the British Lionhearts in Uzbekistan against Veitia.

Though he lost to his more experienced Cuban opponent, it was on a split decision and Ali had only been called up at the last moment.

He said: "I only had a week’s notice for that and I still pushed him all the way. I only lost to him by a point so I think when I’m 100 per cent ready I could get his number.

"It was also a good close fight in the World Championships. If I hadn’t got cut you never know what could have happened.

"Those fights were good confidence boosts."

Ali is now stepping up his training with the rest of the Great Britain boxing squad at a pre-Olympic training camp in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte.

While boxing starts on August 6 at the Olympics, Ali is not due in action until August 13.