Khan out to impress on Irish debut

AMIR KHAN has left nothing to chance ahead of his first fight in Ireland tomorrow night.

The 19-year-old faces Hungarian Laszlo Komjathi in his seventh professional contest at Belfast’s King’s Hall Arena, scene of Barry McGuigan’s great triumphs more than 20 years ago.

Promoter Frank Warren promises it will be a step up in class for young Khan.

Lightweight Komjathi, a former European title contender, says he will confront the Bolton teenager “like Tartars on horseback” but could find it hard to back up big talk with big deeds.

“We’ve seen a lot of the guy on video, and there’ll be nowhere for him to hide,” said Khan’s trainer Oliver Harrison. “Amir is still learning but maturing fast. He looks stronger with every fight.”

Top of the bill is Ireland’s Eamonn Magee defending his WBU light welterweight crown against Takaloo, the 30-year-old English-based Iranian. Magee, who floored Ricky Hatton but lost, has fought only once since being hospitalised in a street assault that put him out of the sport for nearly 12 months.