Popular British prospect Amir Khan (19-1, 15 knockouts) will face former three-division titleholder Marco Antonio Barrera in a lightweight bout somewhere in the UK on March 14, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist's promoter Frank Warren announced on Thursday.

Despite Barrera's recent inactivity and obvious fading abilities, the 35-year-old veteran of 70 pro bouts (64-6, 43 KOs) is a big step up for the 22-year-old Khan, who is only one bout removed from his first pro loss, a one-round knockout to unheralded Breidis Prescott last September.

Warren also plans to stage a WBO 130-pound title bout between British beltholder Nicky Cook and Puerto Rico's Rocky Martinez on the Khan-Barrera undercard, which should be a very entertaining junior lightweight fight.