Khan's World-title Shot Takes a Backward Step

Amir Khan's promoter, Frank Warren, has said his young fighter will not move on to an immediate challenge for a version of the world lightweight title, despite recording the 17th win of his undefeated professional career when he stopped the Dane Martin Kristjansen in the seventh round of the World Boxing Organization world-title eliminator at the Bolton Arena.

"We will see what the WBO say," said Warren last night. "But they have to resolve the confusion first with their champion, Nate Campbell, and their interim champion Joel Casamayor. In the meantime, it will give Amir the chance to have another fight in June when he will get another opportunity to pick up valuable experience."

The fight was another in which Khan, 21, was never in serious trouble against an opponent who did not possess a knock-out punch. The bookies rated the Olympic silver medalist a 50-1 on favorite and, indeed, it never seemed likely Kristjansen had the tools in his armory to spring what would have been a massive upset. Roared on by a crowd in which there had been sporadic disturbances, with one man needing emergency medical treatment after others had set upon him, Khan had seemed a little over-anxious in his desire to produce the spectacular win he had promised. Clearly, he wanted to prove he is ready for an immediate world-title shot but there was a wildness about his early work as the technically sound Kristjansen, 30, had a measure of success delivering crisp counter-punches.

Again showing his old weakness of dropping his left hand after throwing combinations, Khan was clipped several times by right hands. Against a light puncher like Kristjansen, it was not a significant problem, but Khan's trainer, Oliver Harrison, still has work to do before the step-up to the highest level. Whether it is a macho streak implanted in Khan's psyche or whether it is a technical deficiency is irrelevant. The plain fact remains that Khan cannot allow a big puncher to take pot-shots at his chin and the weakness must be eradicated. Similarly, he cannot be allowed to lapse into the indiscipline that saw him punching Kristjansen on the ground after the stricken Dane had sunk to the canvas for the first of three knockdowns in the seventh round as Khan unleashed a barrage of punches.

The British referee, Mickey Vann, let him get away with words of admonishment for an offense that might have invited thoughts of disqualification from an official intent on a more draconian interpretation of the rules. Perhaps Kristjansen should have been given longer to recover by Vann, but Khan was in no mood to waste the opening. The avalanche of punches continued to rain down on the Dane and there could be no argument over the timing of the stoppage when it came.

"I am sure people want to see me knocking people out in the first round, but my opponents are getting better and better, and this was a big fight for me," said Khan. "He was very awkward, more awkward than I thought he would be, and I had to break him down. I caught him with a few shots and saw in his eyes that he didn't fancy it any more. Now I am getting closer and closer to my dream."

In the principal under-card fight Britain's young boxer of the year, Liverpool's Derry Matthews, 24, suffered a surprise first professional defeat to lose the WBU featherweight title when he was floored five times by the rugged Oldham-based Mongolian, Choi Tseveenpurev, 36, before being counted out in the fifth round.