BRITISH lightweight champion Jon Thaxton threw out an underhand challenge to Amir Khan by saying the Bolton boxer is not yet ready to fight for a domestic title.

"If Amir fights me, he won't beat me," said Thaxton, who has his first defence against Scott Lawton on Friday.

"I would take him out late or I might stop him earlier with a body punch.

"Experience is important, and I have plenty of that. I would use it all and it would be too much for him. We don't know yet if he can take a shot."

Olympic silver medallist Khan will fight Steffy Bull, who has been tempted out of retirement, in his 12th professional fight on April 7 when he appears on the undercard of Joe Calzaghe's bout with Peter Manfredo and is keen to take centre stage by fighting for major belts in the near future.

Meanwhile Amir's younger brother Haroon Khan is in action tonight and could be excused for being a little ring-rusty when he contests only his second fight of the season when he begins his bid to become the ABA junior champion in Blackpool.

The 15-year-old has had trouble fixing up opponents, and apart from an appearance on the Bolton Lads' Club show earlier this year, the brother of boxing sensation Amir, has had a series of setbacks. Plans to fight in Ireland and Kent both fell through when his opponents pulled out, leaving the Smithills High School pupil bitterly disappointed.

The Bury Boxing Club junior was one of only two boxers who weighed in for the Greater Manchester regional event of the ABA Junior competition, in the under 15s 48kilo division, meaning the clash will be an automatic final.

The winner will progress to the North West final where he will meet the Merseyside champion.

Haroon is hoping to go one better this year after losing in the previous two national finals.