"I'll take it one fight at a time but I'm confident, " said Khan, who will meet Serik Yeleuov of Kazakhstan on Friday for a place in the final.

CNN: Khan punches his way into history

"I feel like in a few years, I'm going to want to buy a house, " Mr. Khan says.

WSJ: Dow Closes Above 15000

The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says the timing may just be a coincidence - but to many observers it bolsters allegations that the cleric is backed by elements of the judiciary and military.

BBC: Asia