A BRADFORD boxer received a Mayor's welcome on his return from a title winning fight last week.

Tasif Khan recently bagged another World Boxing Union (WBU) belt in Lagos, Nigeria and was given a civic reception in honour of his efforts.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Zafar Ali, invited Khan and his team to his chamber in celebration of his most recent achievement as well as the titles he already holds in the Super Flyweight category.

This includes a separate WBU belt, alongside World Boxing Confederation (WBC) and Global Boxing Union (GBU) titles.

Khan was awarded with a Bradford Coat of Arms broach at the celebration in recognition of his success.

The Lord Mayor said "It is a great achievement for Tasif to be a World Champion and I am immensely pleased that he represented the City of Bradford on the world stage. Tasif has all my support and as a sports fan I will ensure he receives the recognition he deserves."

He added: "I am looking forward to one of his future fights in Bradford so that as Bradfordians we can all show our support for his talent."

Khan puts much of his success down to the "fantastic" team behind him, as well as his family, friends, sponsors and supporters.

He gave particular mention to promoter Prince Stanley Williams of Monarch Promotions and his trainers at Bethlehem Boxing Club in Leeds.

Now, the boxer has set himself another challenge for the future: to encouraging other young people from Bradford to take up boxing, including those from hard to reach and disadvantaged backgrounds.

Khan is tackling the challenge head on by setting up the "Tasif Khan Community Boxing Academy" which is due to open shortly in Bradford.

He said: "Coming from humble beginnings I would like to show our young people that through perseverance and by sticking to your goals you can achieve anything in life."

The boxer's most recent success came after he defeated twice Commonwealth Title Challenger, Asamoah Wilson, by TKO in the second round.

After unsettling his opponent in the first round Khan delivered a crucial body blow in the second and brought home the additional WBU belt.