Kristjansen is Next for Khan on Road to Title

Amir Khan is to fight Martin Kristjansen in an official eliminator for the World Boxing Organization lightweight title at the Bolton Arena on April 5, and the undefeated 21-year-old says victory will keep him on target to fight for the world title before the end of the year.

Khan, the Commonwealth lightweight champion who has won all 16 of his professional fights, was to have fought Kristjansen this month but the fight was postponed because the Dane had flu. In the event Khan fought a tough replacement in the Guyanan-born Australian Gairy St Clair, who took him the 12 rounds championship distance for the first time.

"St Clair was a tough man but I learned I could keep up a high work-rate for the full 12 rounds," Khan said yesterday.

"And Kristjansen is another hard challenge. He is a box-fighter who likes to come forward and he has been in with some good men."

Kristjansen, 30, has lost only once in 23 fights, when he faced the then European champion Stefano Zoff of Italy in 2005. In a subsequent rematch the two fought a draw and Khan believes Kristjansen did enough to have been given the judges' verdict on each occasion.

"It is still about education and learning for Amir," said the promoter, Frank Warren, who knows that Khan, if he wins, will move into a position where he could challenge the formidable WBO champion, Juan Diaz, a 24-year-old American. "The most important thing is that Amir first accounts for Kristjansen and then we can see where we're at. It would be a mistake to look too far ahead."

Despite Warren's caution, Khan is eyeing a showdown with Diaz or a possible step up to light-welterweight where he might challenge the WBA champion Gavin Rees, a Welsh training partner of Joe Calzaghe, provided Rees first wins a mandatory title defence against the Germany-based Ukrainian Andreas Kotelnik in Cardiff on March 22.

"I want to collect the titles and I don't mind who I face," Khan said. "There is talk of the European title [currently held by Yuri Romanov of Belarus] and that would be fine. For me, Juan Diaz is the best lightweight in the world right now so I obviously want him. And I think the style of Gavin Rees would be made for me. I would definitely be ready for him in the next fight or two."

The announcement that Khan will fight Kristjansen has again frustrated the British champion Jon Thaxton, who has long campaigned for a Khan fight. Thaxton's promoter, Mick Hennessy, said: "Last week we said we were prepared to fight Khan for £150,000 on a Frank Warren bill. It's a shame but they don't seem to fancy a big puncher like Thaxton."