Khan beat Frenchman Rachid Drilzane in his last fight
Amir Khan's next fight will be on the undercard of the Audley Harrison bill at Wembley Arena on 17 February.

Khan will fight at lightweight after winning the IBF inter-continental light welterweight crown earlier this month.

The Bolton star, 20, beat Frenchman Rachid Drilzane on points, but only after suffering a seventh-round knockdown at the hands of his opponent.

"It's only his 11th fight but there'll be big things happening for Amir in 2007," said promoter Frank Warren.

"It will be another part of his education to get him into a situation where he can fight for another title at lightweight within the next few fights.

"I was really pleased with his performance at the ExCel Arena a couple of weeks ago, he really boxed well.

It's good to take a few shots sometimes. If you go in the shower, you're going to get wet

Amir Khan

"The one thing I was delighted with was that he showed he had stamina. It doesn't matter how good you are as a boxer, if you haven't got stamina, you could struggle.

"He's got a 10-rounder under his belt after just 10 fights which is very unusual for his weight division.

"We also learnt that he isn't a light welterweight, he is a lightweight and he'll continue to fight at lightweight.

"There are a few things that he and [trainer] Oliver Harrison will work on. He's still got a long, long way to go but he's doing an excellent job.

"There are times when he throws lots of shots when he could pick them a bit better, but that will come with experience.


Watson (right) eventually lost to Khan on points in 2005

"And more power will come when he picks his shots. He'll achieve his goals, I have never been so certain of something happening."

Khan was made to work hard for his win over Drilzane and took a standing count after a flash knockdown.

But his confidence has not been dented and he said his ambition is to be a world champion this time next year, although a British title shot is a more realistic target.

"I took a couple of shots [against Drilzane] and I can work on getting the left hand a bit higher," said Khan.

"But it's good to take a few shots sometimes, because if you don't and you get a big fight, you won't know what to do.

"As [former featherweight world champion] Barry McGuigan's says, if you go in the shower, you're going to get wet.

"I'm not perfect and it's good I've got things to work on because I'm not going to get bored in the gym.

How much will Khan achieve in 2007?

"But I know now I can go 10 rounds and hopefully in another five fights I'll be ready for the big ones.

"I think in another five or six fights I'll be strong at the weight and be used to doing 10 or 12 rounds."

One possible opponent for February is Manchester's Craig Watson, who dealt Khan his only amateur knockdown in 2005 before losing on points.

Watson is unbeaten in seven fights since turning professional and has been canvassing for a rematch.

"I would make that fight in a heartbeat, but Watson should phone me instead of the press," said Warren.

O'Sullivan leaves the arena after handing victory to Hendry
Ronnie O'Sullivan has apologised to his opponent Stephen Hendry and fans after walking out of his Maplin UK Championship quarter-final on Thursday.
The former world champion was trailing 4-1 when he dramatically conceded the match after missing a red.

O'Sullivan said: "Anyone who knows me knows I'm a perfectionist.

"Today I got so annoyed with myself that I lost my patience and walked away from a game that, with hindsight, I should have continued."


O'Sullivan walks out of UK Championship
Feature: Ronnie on Ronnie

At this moment I am feeling disappointed with myself and I am hurt and numb

Ronnie O'Sullivan
O'Sullivan was 24 points ahead in the sixth frame when he missed an attempted pot and immediately declared the match over, shaking the hand of Hendry and referee Jan Verhaas before walking out of the Barbican Centre arena.

"He just said he had had enough," said Hendry, who was awarded a 9-1 win. "I had no inkling anything was wrong."

O'Sullivan blamed his decision on a "bad day in the office".

"I wish I could have given Stephen a better game and I'm sorry I didn't stick around to sharpen him up for his semi-final," he added.

"I'm also really sorry to let down the fans who came to see me play - it wasn't my intention to disappoint them and for that I am truly apologetic.

"At this moment I am feeling disappointed with myself and I am hurt and numb.

If he's got problems I feel for him, but I've never seen anything like it in my life

Stephen Hendry
"But I am a fighter and I will be back on my feet fighting stronger and harder than ever very soon."

Hendry and O'Sullivan have clashed in the past, but the Scot said there were no longer any problems between the two.

"He seemed in good form beforehand and we were chatting back stage," Hendry said. "There is no bad feeling between us anymore anyway.

"Ronnie's obviously got his reasons and I'm not going to criticise him.

"He just said he had had enough and wished me good luck for the rest of the tournament. Only he knows what he feels inside.

"I can't criticise someone else for that, but I've never seen anything like it. It's just bizarre."

I sincerely hope he's got a good explanation for this

Hendry will play the winner of the second semi-final between Graeme Dott and Steve Davis, with Dott leading 5-3 after their opening session.

"I'm not going to lie, it's a good feeling to be in the next round," Hendry added. "But I was enjoying the match, playing well and obviously I would much rather have won properly.

"If he's got problems I feel for him, but I've never seen anything like it in my life."

World Snooker's Michael Ganley, the tournament director, confirmed O'Sullivan had conceded the match.

Spectators who had paid to watch the two sessions of their clash were allowed to watch the Dott-Davis match instead, which caused disruption as spectators moved around to see the action on the other table.

Maybe he should put his cue in the case and leave it there

John Parrott on O'Sullivan
They were also offered tickets for Friday's semi-final between John Higgins and Peter Ebdon.

O'Sullivan, a former world champion and world number one, is one of the game's most charismatic figures.

But the 31-year-old from Essex is also a troubled soul, battling depression and threatening to quit snooker on numerous occasions.

Former world champion John Parrott, an analyst for BBC Sport, thinks O'Sullivan should quit the game for good if he is unhappy.

"Ronnie has got a bit of time now over Christmas to go away and reflect on what he has done here, then maybe he can come back with a fresh approach in the new year," Parrott said.

"But if the game is making him miserable and he really doesn't want to be there, then maybe he should put his cue in the case and leave it there."