World can wait for confident Khan

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The 2004 Olympic silver medallist faces Barrera at the MEN Arena in Manchester bidding to put his career back on track after last year's shocking defeat by Colombian Breidis Prescott, and with promoter Frank Warren hoping to confirm the bout as a final eliminator for a shot at the WBA lightweight title, Khan readily accepts it is the most important night of his career.

But he knows that challenging champion Juan Manuel Marquez immediately after beating Barrera would be unwise, and told PA Sport: "Not straight after this fight - I won't be ready for (Marquez) at this moment in time, he's a brilliant fighter."

He added: "But after getting Barrera out the way maybe I'll have one more fight then a world title fight, or maybe have a European fight and then a world title fight.

"I'm just going to leave that to Frank Warren, I'm going to focus on this fight. But by the end of the year I'll be in the mix with the best fighters in the world."

The 22-year-old is well aware of the importance of the Barrera fight after returning to the ring with an easy win over Oisin Fagan in December following the first-round knockout by Prescott.

"This fight is make-or-break for me and that motivates me," he said. "This is going to bring the best out of Amir Khan. Afterwards, there will be no questions about me.

"I'm ready for anything. I'm coming into the fight fearless.

"This is more important than the Olympic final, it is a different chapter in my career and what a fight it's going to be."