BOXING:AMIR KHAN has been warned he must wait for his world title shot after Ireland's Michael Gomez exposed more flaws in the 21-year-old's armoury in a ferocious five-round war in Birmingham on Saturday night.

A sustained assault from Khan finally persuaded referee John Keane to stop the extraordinarily brave Gomez at 2.32 of the fifth round but not before the favourite had hit the canvas for the second time in his professional career.

Khan, who had looked on course for a quick finish when he decked Gomez with a big right hand in the opening round, was toppled by a corkscrewing left uppercut to the jaw from Longford-born Gomez in the second.

Although Khan rose quickly to his feet and showed few ill-effects as he got back to dominating a fast and furious contest, his performance persuaded promoter Frank Warren there is no need to rush his major asset into world title contention.

Warren said: "Amir is still not ready to fight for a world title. He needs some more schooling. There's no doubt he's a got a big heart but sometimes he fights with his heart rather than his head and that's what we've got to work on."