PROMOTER Frank Warren has dangled the possibility of a shot at a world title in front of Amir Khan - if the Briton can beat Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera in their clash at the MEN Arena in March.

Warren is keen to fast-track Khan back towards the big-time and erase any lingering memories of his stunning first-round knockout defeat to Colombian Breidis Prescott at the same venue in Manchester in September.

Khan is taking a big gamble by taking on the 35-year-old on March 14, who has scored two straight wins since coming out of an 11-month retirement and is himself hungry to claim a world crown in a fourth weight division.

But Warren said: "Amir is taking a big step up to fight a legend. And if Amir wins, he gets himself into a situation where hopefully he fights for a world title in his next fight.

"This is what Amir's about. He's had hiccups but he's come through them and this is the essence of Amir - 'Give me a challenge'. I've no doubts it will be a tremendous event for boxing in Britain."

Barrera is now aligned with Don King who promotes two reigning world lightweight champions in IBF and WBO king Nate Campbell - due to fight in Florida on Valentine's Day - and Namibia's WBA champion Paulus Moses.

Given the thawing of relations in recent years between King and Warren it can be assumed Khan would move into pole position for a crack at either of them - but he is wisely concentrating on the job in hand.

Khan said: "It's the fight I need and I'm ready for it. I'm confident I've become a much better fighter. I've tasted defeat and I'm not scared of anything now. I made mistakes I'll never make again.

"I've learned a lot training with Freddie Roach in Los Angeles and I'm sure Freddie's the man who can take me all the way to becoming a great world champion. I'm loving training with him."

Barrera insists he too is up for the fight despite almost scuppering the deal when he suffered a bad cut in a four-round disqualification win over no-hoper Freudis Rojas in Mexico last weekend.

He said: "Khan shouldn't be worrying about my cut - he should be worrying about me. I'm going to be 100% so he'd better be ready. He's a good fighter but his chin is questionable.

"I want to make it clear I am still a contender. This fight will get me into the bigger fights. I just have to show up and win this fight and then I will get to those bigger fights again."