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AMIR Khan lifted one title at Bolton Arena on Saturday but immediately vacated another.

Khan won the WBO inter-contintental crown after his seventh-round stoppage of Dane Martin Kristjansen, but immediately announced he was relinquishing the Commonwealth title he has successfully defended three times.

Khan has been told by the Commonwealth committee he must defend the title against British champion Jonathan Thaxton, but after the Norwich boxer's disappointing display 24 hours earlier, when he was well beaten by European champion Yuri Romanov, the Bolton boxer has no interest in a showdown.

Thaxton snubbed the chance to fight Khan and instead fought the 25-year-old from Belarus, but he has missed the boat as far as the Khan camp is concerned.

Khan said: "Thaxton had his chance and didn't take it. I am moving on to bigger and better things.

"There was a time when I would have fought Thaxton and he was offered a lot of money but he didn't take that chance. He could have been here today and I am sure I could have done exactly what Romanov did to him. I am not going to wait around now as I have bigger things to go for."

Manager and promoter Frank Warren showed his frustrations over the affair saying: "We are going to vacate the Commonwealth title because you saw what happened to Jonathan Thaxton on Friday night.

"It is a pointless fight and Amir is beyond that. What would he have to prove by fighting him. Thaxton could have been here fighting Amir, instead he fought for less money and got beat up.

"I am very disappointed with the Commonwealth committee. One day they might understand what the business side of this sport is all about."

9:26am Monday 7th April 2008

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