Kevin Mitchell hopes he can move a step closer to a showdown with Amir Khan by crushing the fighter who almost ruined his domestic rival's career.

Feared Colombian puncher Breidis Prescott stunned British boxing when he flattened Khan in 54 seconds just over a year ago, inflicting the solitary defeat on his professional record.

Khan responded to the setback magnificently, stopping Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera and seizing the WBA light-welterweight belt from Andreas Kotelnik.

The first defence of his crown will be staged at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena on December 5 against Dmitriy Salita, yet just as fascinating a contest is Mitchell's WBO lightweight title eliminator on the undercard.

The unbeaten 25-year-old from Dagenham is ready to step out of Khan's shadow in the hope of one day securing a showdown against his domestic rival.

"Everyone wants to see me fight Khan. Amir's a brilliant fighter but I've always wanted to fight him," he said.

"Amir was made out to be a superstar so when Prescott came over and demolished him like he was nothing it made him look like a world beater.

"But I fancy demolishing Prescott within 10 rounds. Then I'll be the superstar.

"Me against Amir would be a massive fight. We could have it at West Ham in the summer, 35,000 would turn up.

"I've always thought I was the best in British boxing for my age, but I was outshone when Amir came back from the Olympics. Now I've had time to learn."

Prescott's punching power left a big impression on the UK but the 26-year-old lost the last of his two fights since, on points against Miguel Vazquez in July.

However, his record of 18 knockouts in 21 wins remains impressive, though Mitchell insists it is the South American who should be worried.

"Breidis caught Amir on the chin and he got knocked out," he said.

"Amir had his hands down and chin out and most people would have been knocked out by that shot.

"But Breidis has to be more worried about what I hit like. I've had 21 knockouts in 29 fights and some of them were against good fighters.

"I won't lose any sleep over his punching power. He does hit hard but he makes a lot of mistakes and I want to capitalise on those."

Gold-medal winner James DeGale joins fellow Olympians Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders on the undercard, with opponents yet to be announced.

DeGale has put a troubled start to his professional career behind him, rattling off three straight stoppage wins since making a laboured debut in February.

A showdown with unbeaten super-middleweight prospect, George Groves, who beat him as an amateur, appears inevitable and DeGale took another swipe at his rival.

"George has lived in my shadow for half his life so obviously he's going to be bitter and upset. He won't last five rounds with me," he said.

"Let him talk the fight up, but I will knock him out. I don't like him and everyone knows that. I played with him in the amateurs. I'd take it now."

On Monday, promoter Frank Warren unveiled 19-year-old Oldham welterweight Ronnie Heffron, who won an ABA title earlier this year, as the latest addition to his stable.