( CNN ) -- Amir Khan is a rare thing in sport : A world champion boxer who still lives with his parents and a prominent Muslim who is not afraid to address the image of Islam today . Khan tasted international boxing success when he was just 17 , winning a silver medal at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 . Now 23 , he holds the WBA World Light Welterweight title , defended against Pauli Malignaggi in New York in May . But bright lights and big cities have n't distracted the boy from Bolton , an unassuming town in northwest England . He still lives , and for the most part , trains , in his hometown . `` I 'm so close with my family ... my Dad never missed an amateur fight or a professional fight , my uncle 's the same , they 've always been with me that 's why I have so much respect for them , '' Khan told CNN . Khan spoke to CNN 's Revealed team after his big fight in New York , about his life as a sportsman , British Muslim and role model . CNN : Why do you love boxing ? Amir Khan : It feels like home , even when I step in the ring . As soon as I walk into any gym in the world I feel at home . I know everything , I know what to do . It just feels so comfortable . I can do what I want there . It feels even more comfortable than walking into my own house and my own bedroom . That 's how much I love boxing . I like to entertain when I 'm in the boxing ring ; I like to show speed , power and explosiveness . It 's an art , people need to see [ it as ] that , not as a violent sport , and when I go into the ring to hurt someone it 's because they 're trying to hurt me . That 's the only reason I hit them back . CNN : Do you enter a different zone as the fight approaches ? AK : I totally enter a different zone . It 's like when I 'm in the gym I 'm 100 percent there ... it 's like autopilot , I 'm just doing it , man , my body 's just making me do whatever . Time starts going slower approaching the fight , maybe four days before the fight , time just stops . CNN : Do you think people look for a race issue when you fight ? AK : Being a Muslim and being a Pakistani a lot of people are going to bring that issue up . I 'm flying the flag for Britain and Pakistan , I 'm proud to be British and British Pakistani , and I think there 's a lot of people , Muslim people , just like me . So , when you do get a lot of people [ talking about ] terrorism and stuff like that , it 's only a very small percentage . There 's a bigger picture out there and I want people to follow my footsteps and do what I 'm doing . CNN : How does your faith help you ? AK : My faith keeps me humble and keeps my feet on the ground . I pray and I do things privately . It gives me strength when I go in the ring . I know I 'm not on my own , I 've got God on my side as well , God 's helping me , God 's going to give me that inner strength to go in there and win the fight . Boxing in the ring is a lonely place , it 's just you and your opponent , no one else , so you know spiritually when you have that help it makes a massive difference . It gives you so much confidence . CNN : Do you sometimes just want to be a boxer without the image ? AK : At times I used to think to myself , I 've got a lot of pressure on me , but I 'm happy with it . People see me as a Pakistani Muslim British fighter . I 'm fine with that and being a role model . CNN : What does it mean to you to be seen as a role model ? AK : It 's nice , I think I 'm probably the only Asian Muslim role model in Britain , there 's no other Muslim , Pakistani , Indian or whatever role model in the country ... that does put pressure on you but I 'm only doing what I love to do . I 'm a boxer , I 'm a normal guy , I 'm never going to change no matter how big I get . I 'm never going to be big-headed and I hate those who are . I never look down on anyone and I 'll always speak to people , I 've got time for my fans ... even if I have to go out of my way to do it , I 'll take a picture , and I 've been doing that and maybe that 's the reason that God gives me so much -- and has given me so much -- success . CNN : Where would you be if it were n't for boxing ? AK : I 've got a lot of friends who were in school with me and they 've taken the wrong path and I think I would 've taken the wrong path with them . I would 've definitely gone the wrong path or maybe still be with my parents . With the respect I have for them , they would 've kept me on the right path , but I would n't be anywhere like where I am now .
Khan is a British boxer and WBA World Light Welterweight champion . Khan beat American boxer Amir Khan in first fight in the U.S. in May . Born and raised in Amir Khan , a town in northwest U.S. ; still lives with family . Devout British , he is proud of his family heritage and status as role model .