World welterweight title contender Amir Khan has been released on bail after the British boxer was arrested on suspicion of two assaults in the early hours of Friday, according to media reports.

Manchester police would not confirm it was Khan who had been arrested, but they did issue a statement on the incident.

"Just before 1:30 am on Friday, police were called following reports of an assault in Bolton," the statement read. "Officers discovered two 19-year-old men had been assaulted. Their injuries are not serious.

"A 27-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of two assaults and has been bailed until mid-July, pending further enquiries."

Khan played down the incident on social media.

"All nonsense; please don't believe what you read. I'm home with my family and nobody got beat up," the boxer said on Twitter.

A spokesman for Khan confirmed he had been arrested, adding: "Amir has since been released without charge on bail. At this stage we are unable to comment any further on this matter."

If charges are pressed and assault is proven, Khan could lose his boxing license.

This is not the first time the former Olympic silver medalist has had a brush with the law. In 2006 Khan was arrested after a pedestrian was injured in an accident with the boxer's BMW convertible.

Khan was charged with dangerous driving but convicted of driving without due care and attention, which resulted in a fine and suspension of his driving privileges.

Khan is hoping to challenge Floyd Mayweather for the unbeaten American's World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council titles in the fall.

(China Daily 07/06/2014 page11)