Boxing: Khan must take slow road to title.

Byline: BARRY McGUIGAN 

AMIR KHAN is a world class talent but not yet ready to challenge for a world title.

The thread that connects potential to championship victories is experience, the commodity that Khan still lacks.

Khan was expected to meet British champion Jon Thaxton next. Economics appeared to get in the way of that. For now.

Khan's promoter Frank Warren did not believe that the numbers, rumoured to be pounds 300,000 in Thaxton's case, added up.

From a purely boxing perspective that's a pity because Thaxton is at the right point on Khan's learning curve.

Khan needs rounds in the ring against reasonable threats. He needs to be challenged, to be put under pressure, to come through a test.

After Graham Earl, Thaxton would have been ideal. Instead Khan was to have moved on to a WBO title eliminator against Martin Krisjansen at London's ExCel on February 2, but the Dane pulled out yesterday with stomach problems.

Warren knows his business. I don't believe that Frank is really thinking in terms of a world title fight yet and he has his hands full anyway in fixing up a replacement for Krisjansen on the ExCel show.

This next bout should buy time. It also invites Thaxton and his promoter Mick Hennessy to reconsider the rewards they are seeking from a Khan match, which I think are unrealistic if the figures are true.

Warren does not like being pushed into a negotiating corner.

But I would be surprised if Warren does not revisit the Thaxton issue. One thing is certain, Khan had no fear about meeting the British champion.

What Amir really needs now is to develop as a fighter. The move to the pro game has not been seamless.

He needs to take more time to mould his style to the demands of the paid code. The only way to do this is to get the rounds under your belt in bouts that matter.

While sparring is crucial, it cannot ever simulate the experience of fighting under lights, with the scrutiny of the crowd and the cameras adding to the pressure.

That is when your decision-making has to be razor sharp. You have to learn how to think under pressure.

I don't believe Khan has had enough competitive rounds to prepare him for a bout against such current world lightweight stars as Juan Diaz or Joel Casamayor.

Khan beat Willie Limond and what that fight showed was the value of time spent in the ring, the value of being able to concentrate for long periods and pace oneself. Amir has still to master that element of the game. Limond had enough experience to capitalise on that and catch Khan out.

Khan has a tendency to switch off against opponents who are not power punches. He found his focus again against Scott Lawton and Earl, a fighter who carried a real threat in his right hand.

Now I want to see Khan go ten rounds with a top class fighter, with someone who can take a shot, who fights at a more intense pace.

What happens when Amir fights a slick banger competitive for 12 rounds, someone on his case, fighting on the inside, negating his jab, hitting him on the throat and ears?

We don't know, and neither does Amir. He will get there, but not quite yet.

CAPTION(S):

LOCAL HERO: Amir Khan at the opening of his new club in Bolton, which allows youngsters affordable use of the facilities; DEMANDS: Thaxton