BOLTON boxer Haroon Khan is under no illusions the pressure will be on when he returns to ring for the first time in six months tonight.

The 22-year-old has his third professional outing at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens against Bulgarian Stefan Slavchev looking to make it three consecutive wins.

But he accepts carrying the Khan family name into the ring comes with extra pressure to succeed and follow in the footsteps of superstar older brother Amir, as well as inspiring his 20-year-old opponent.

Haroon told The Bolton News: “I put pressure on myself like Amir has done throughout his career; in that way we are both driven to suceed.

“But it also adds pressure because it can fire up the opponent.

“They know if they can beat me it can open doors for them because they will have beaten Amir’s brother.

“It would be a bigger story than normal against a young professional and could open doors for them. But it does not affect me; I know I am capable of winning fights as I have shown in my first two earlier this year.

“I have had a great training camp with Oliver Harrison and the sparring has been tougher than ever so I am ready to get back in there.”

Tonight’s contest is another move forward for the 2010 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist as he looks to follow in the footsteps of Amir all the way to the top of the sport.

And the super-flyweight, who has often labelled his 26-year-old sibling as his idol, admits that while the expectation levels with the Khan name are high, he also has the benefit of some fantastic advice at the end of a telephone.

He added: “Obviously, it is great to have Amir to call to get advice from and I am lucky in that respect.

“I have said before he is as much my boxing idol as my brother.

“He is fully behind me, although I am not too sure mum was too happy to have another son go into boxing.

“She wanted me to be a model before turning pro.

“Amir is behind me for every fight and his advice is a big thing because he has been through what I am going through starting out as a professional.

“It inspires me what he has achieved as a boxer and now promoting as well.

“He has been in with some great fighters and that’s my ultimate aim.

“We have the same blood so I don’t see why it cannot happen.”

First up for Haroon is Slavchev as he looks to adds to previous wins against Brett Fidoe and Vincente Medellin earlier this year.

Those fights came after 18 months out of the ring but he wasted no time in showing his pro credentials and hopes to rubber-stamp those and illuminate Blackpool against an opponent who has lost eight of his 11 fights to date, including his last six.

He added: “It’s great to be on the bill in Blackpool.

“I hope there will be a lot of support for me.

“It will not be easy – I do not take any opponent easily.

“I know Stefan will be coming to get the win so I’ll need to be at my sharpest and make sure I’m ready.

“But training has gone great and I’m ready.”