Wright has accepted an offer from Team Khan to spar 48 rounds with the precocious talent over the next month in Bolton.

The Gus Robinson boxer has always insisted he would "love to fight" the Commonwealth lightweight champion and the 2004 Olympic Games hero.

But for the time being the fighters will be decked out in headguards and wearing heavier gloves for their gym sessions in Khan's hometown.

One of promoter and manager Frank Warren's leading figures, Dean Powell, who trained Khan for his last fight, had suggested Wright for sparring.

"I got a call from Amir's dad asking if Nigel would go down to spar his lad," said Wright's coach, Peter Cope.

"Dean has worked with us at quite a few of Nigel's fights and he recommended him.

"Khan must be fighting a southpaw in his next bout and that's why they've asked for Nigel.

"It will be great sparring for both of them, Nigel will test him, that's for sure, and from our perspective we'll benefit from being in with the lad who's expected to be the nextr superstar of British boxing.

"A lot of sparring partners are just there to get hit, but Nigel's ambitious for more titles and glory.

"We're going there to help Amir but not to roll over.

"He's got his next English light-welterweight title defence on September 5, so the sparring's as important to him as it is to Khan.

"We were supposed to go there tomorrow but Amir's got a bit of a sore hand, so we'll start on Monday."