09.01.08 – Matthhew Hurley: Rising lightweight contender Amir Khan, 15-0 with 12 KOs has opted not to fight rival Jon Thaxton, 33-7 with 18 KOs. Khan, the Commonwealth champion, had been called out by Thaxton, the British champion, and the two fighters engaged in a war of words leading up to the proposed fight which was to go to purse bid in Cardiff on Wednesday. The British Boxing Board of Control confirmed on Tuesday that Khan would not put his title on the line against Thaxton..
Over the weekend Thaxton demanded that Khan be stripped of his Commonwealth title if he pulled out of the fight before the purse bid. That may now happen despite Khan’s earlier protestations that he would fight Thaxton just to close his mouth.
“I want to fight Thaxton just to shut him up,” Khan told Setanta Sports. “But I might be moving too quickly and never get the chance (to fight Thaxton) because I might have the chance for a world title.”
Thaxton countered, “If Khan bottles it and pulls out of this purse bid and still continues to fight on February 2nd then not only will he lose his right to fight for the prestigious British title, he should definitely be stripped of the Commonwealth title.”
Khan is scheduled to fight Denmark’s Martin Kristjansen for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental lightweight title on February 2nd.
Khan’s promoter Frank Warren says that Thaxton was demanding too much money. “We offered good money to Thaxton to take the fight but he has priced himself out of the contest. We will have the February 2nd fight and then sit down to discuss the next move for Amir.”
Warren seems to be more concerned with positioning Khan for a world title shot than negotiating with Thaxton. On his official website Warren said, “Amir has achieved far more than I expected in such a short space of time, and I believe 2008 will be his year and he will challenge for a world title at some point in the next twelve months.”
Upon being informed of Khan’s decision British Boxing Board of Control secretary Simon Block said, “The Board will be disappointed Khan has decided not to put himself forward for the bidding process, and also that Thaxton appears to have turned down a career best purse. With the great end in 2007 for our sport, this match was to be one of the most eagerly awaited.