Thank goodness for Amir Khan. The Bolton teenager was meant to be just a tasty starter at London's ExCel Arena but his dazzling display far outshone the main course.

And it needed to, as the eagerly awaited showdown between Britain's top heavyweights was an embarrassing non-event.

Khan threw more punches in his two rounds than the heavyweights managed over 12 - no wonder he is proving such a major attraction.

The sell-out crowd chanted "what a load of rubbish" as Williams outpointed a lethargic Harrison in a bout that only came to life when the former Olympic gold medallist was floored for the first time in his career in the 10th round.

In contrast, the 15,000 fans were on their feet from the moment the bell went for Khan's fight as he and Daniel Thorpe traded punches in a fast, furious and physical encounter, watched by more than eight million ITV viewers.

As Ed Symonds from promoter Frank Warren's Sports Network said: "You could have brought Amir back four times and the crowd would still not have had enough of him. He is so much more than a warm up act."

Thorpe, aged 28, far more experienced than the Olympic silver medallist with 65 fights, was not prepared to be cautious. The Sheffield boxer went all out for a knockout punch, but Khan's class is such that the dangers of being exposed to the counter punches can be lethal - and so it proved.

Khan is a man in a hurry, and when given the opportunity to finish off his opponent, he will literally seize it with both hands.

Just hours before the fight the 19-year-old predicted he was looking for a quick finish in the second round.

He cut it fine as there were just three second remaining when the fight was stopped - but there was no doubting his intentions.

Thorpe began the fight trying to ruffle Khan with a positive, physical approach that culminated in the referee haranguing both fighters after a scrappy start.

It did not take long, however, before the fleet-footed Khan was dodging punches and countering with a flurry of shots, which rattled Thorpe, before a powerhouse right to the side of the head floored him just before the bell.

Thorpe had not learn any lessons as he came racing out for the second trying to trade punches again only to be rocked by Khan's quick-fire combinations.

A second avalanche of shots and Khan could smell victory. He delivered two crunching rights which put Thorpe down for the second time and with his legs gone Khan went in for the kill, unleashing a string of punches that left the referee with no option but to stop the fight.

Khan was delighted with his fourth professional success saying: "I enjoyed it. He came on to me, which I like, but he took shots and kept coming back. I could find openings.

"I think it was my best performance. I am getting stronger and punching harder. My hand was feeling a bit sore so I thought I had better finish it quickly. It has been a good year for me and I am happy to finish it off with such a good win. It has gone just the way we planned."

Kent referee Richie Davies had his work cut out dealing with the pair and twice had to reprimand them.

He said: "I told them to do as they were told and tidy it up, because if they carried on then one of them would be cut."

Khan's stablemate at Oliver's Gym in Salford, WBU world featherweight champion Steve Foster Jnr, produced a disappointing display to earn a draw against Ghana's Buster Dennis in a non-title fight.

The Walkden boxer, unbeaten in his previous 19 fights, is still struggling to overcome a shoulder injury that has plagued him since the summer and was way below his best form.

Amir's younger brother Haroon produced a tremendous boxing display to beat the Four Nations champion at Blackburn.

The 14-year-old, who earlier this year beat the 42-kilo Four Nations champion, stepped up to 46k and easily outpointed Middleton's Grant Brown.

He is in action again in January when he competes in the Golden Belt Championships. This year he reached the semi-finals, which he lost on points.

David Magilton.