Amir Khan-Marco Antonio Barrera could be but back, says Frank Warren

Promoter Frank Warren is "hopeful" that Amir Khan's Manchester showdown with Marco Antonio Barrera will still go ahead after the Mexican boxing great suffered a cut above his left eye after a headbutt from Freudis Rojas in a warm-up fight in Mexico on Saturday night.Barrera's promoter Don King told Khan's counterpart that his man should be fit to take part on March 14, but Warren has insisted he had hoped Barrera would not fight last weekend.

The bout, that has already sold 15,000 tickets, could be moved back a fortnight if the Mexican cannot recover in time for what could prove to be a defining fight for Khan.

The cut required two stitches, and with less than six weeks to go before the proposed fight at the Manchester Evening News Arena, doubts surfaced whether Barrera can recover in time to face the Briton.

Warren told the Manchester Evening News that Barrera has flown to Florida with King to have a thorough medical examination: "At the moment, Barrera has had a couple of stitches and we will find out more today," said Warren.

"I am an optimist, not a pessimist. I want the show to go on, although I know there are people out there who want it off. Marco is flying to Florida with Don King and they will go to see a doctor and hopefully everything will be OK. There won't be any replacement. Once I know what's happening I will make a decision, but at the moment everything is as it was."

Warren is expected to make a statement on Monday evening.