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 knock-out defeat by Colombian Breidis Prescott at the same venue in Manchester in September.

Khan is taking a big gamble by taking on the 35-year-old, 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."

Khan is not looking beyond the clash with Barrera on 14 March. He said: "It's the fight I need and I'm ready.

"I've tasted defeat and I'm not scared of anything now. I made mistakes I'll never make again."

Barrera almost scuppered the deal for the fight when he suffered a bad cut in a win over Freudis Rojas in Mexico last weekend.

He said: "Khan shouldn't be worrying about my cut - he should be worrying about me. He's good but his chin is questionable."