Commonwealth super-featherweight champion Ricky Burns has been taken off the undercard of Amir Khan's world title defence.

Burns was scheduled to fight a non-title contest at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena on December 5 but has been withdrawn as he prepares for a possible world title fight.

The Coatbridge fighter's representatives are in talks over a bout with WBO champion Roman Martinez and it is understood they did not want to jeopardise the deal by putting Burns through a fight in Newcastle.