News Digest

Champ’s got swag: 24-carat Khan to wear sport’s most expensive shorts

Britain’s Amir Khan will wear boxing’s “most expensive shorts” when he steps into the ring to face Devon Alexander in a welterweight bout in Las Vegas this weekend. Former Olympic silver medallist Khan will wear shorts, made of white nappa leather, silk and featuring a waistband made of 24-carat gold thread, with a reported value of at least $31,430. The Sheffield company Fight Label, who made the shorts, said Khan “wanted extravagant and we’ve delivered”.

I think it’s possibly the most expensive shorts ever made.

Sophie Whittam, designer of the shorts

Khan, 28, has already caught the eye with a separate pair of dazzling shorts in the build-up to the bout with Alexander, who has won 26 of his 28 career fights. He wore a pair of black shorts made of “Versace material” and featuring more than “1000 Swarovski stones” for a media workout on Wednesday. Khan’s clash with Alexander will be his first fight since defeating veteran American Luis Collazo in May.

For around four to six weeks we’ve been working on designs and colours and obviously Amir and his family had a little bit of input, but at the end of the day it’s what we think is going to look best.

Sophie Whittam