Bolton boxing sensation Amir Khan has won his toughest ever professional fight, beating veteran Gairy St Clair on points in his first ever 12-round fight.

It was a fantastic performance by Khan who was judged to be ahead on points throughout by the ITV commentating team.

PREVIEW

AMIR Khan could be just two fights away from a world title, but "hard-man" Gairy St Clair stands in his way tonight.

The Australian-based Guyanan takes on Bolton's boxing sensation at London's ExCel Arena but Khan admits it is just the test he is relishing as he puts his lightweight Commonwealth title on the line.

St Clair stepped in when Dane Martin Kristjansen withdrew from the fight suffering from flu, but the 21-year-old believes his new opponent will pose a stiffer test.

Khan said: "The Dane lad was durable but it would have been an easier fight because although he is ranked number two in the world, he doesn't have that much to offer.

"Luckily we have had time to train for the new opponent. We have been watching videos and he is a slippery fighter who has never been knocked out.

"He will take me on to the next level. It will be over 12 rounds and test my stamina and see if I can fight under pressure and handle it when it gets uncomfortable. He has got the experience and is very hard to hit. He comes in with pressure then eases off."

St Clair turns 33 today, but Khan admits he has a fight on his hands against the former world champion, who has been in with the best and never been stopped in 46 fights.

"To be honest he is the best opponent I will have faced and is better than any British fighter," Khan added. "He can take power shots from light welterweights so I am sure he can take shots from me. That is what I want, I don't want to fight somebody who will go down easily.

"I didn't learn anything from the Graham Earl fight. I had 10 weeks of training, which I needed to get out of my system, but the fight lasted just 76 seconds.

"St Clair is not a big puncher but if he keeps hitting you he will wear you out with the amount of punches.

"They start hurting after a bit when you get tired. I need to see how I can cope when I am under real pressure. If I can handle this lad I can handle anything.

"Getting this fight out of the way will bring me on and give me more confidence. He can take a good shot and when you hit him once he wants to hit you back twice.

"People might think many of my opponents are intimidated because of the crowds, but he is not going to be fazed by it.

"I want to be the youngest world champion and by the end of the year have a big fight with one of the top guys for one of the big four titles."

The fight will be shown live on ITV at 10.40pm.

l Ricky Hatton has revealed the fear of being remembered as a failure means he is not even contemplating retirement.

The Hitman boasted one of the longest unbeaten records in boxing until he was floored by Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas in December.

He has reiterated his desire for a re-match with the world's best pound-for-pound fighter, claiming he was not given "a fair crack of the whip" in last year's welterweight contest.

"I don't want my last fight to be that fight, me on my back getting counted out," Hatton said. "What sort of a champion would I be if I didn't come back and try and prove myself?"