AMIR Khan took a giant step towards his dream of winning a world lightweight title before the end of the year with victory in his 17th professional fight at a packed Bolton Arena.
Khan's fight with Denmark's Martin Kristjansen was billed as an eliminator for a shot at new WBO champion Nate Campbell.
But the Bolton superstar didn't have it all his own way before he launched a ferocious attack in the seventh round, with three knock downs before the referee finally stopped the fight.
Khan started brightly, but by the fifth round he appeared to have been pegged back slightly, but then came the thrilling finish.
Khan's manager Frank Warren insisted before the fight that Amir must first prove he is fully ready for such an ambitious step up by looking good against the Dane, who has put his WBO inter-continental title up for grabs.
Warren said: "Amir is a quality fighter and if he is going places the Martin Kristjansens of this world are the kind of opponents he has got to deal with. And he has got to deal with them in style."
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