Boxing: I'LL BEAT FAGAN AND THE CRITICS; BIG NIGHT WITH TITLES AT STAKE IN LAS VEGAS, LONDON AND NOTTINGHAM.

Byline: BY DAVID ANDERSON 

AMIR KHAN admits his world title dream could be over if he loses tonight.

Khan faces Oisin Fagan in his first fight since being sparked out inside a round by Breidis Prescott and he knows he cannot afford to slip up again.

"I can write off the Prescott defeat as a bad night at the office, but I can't afford to lose for a second time," said Khan.

"The pressure on me will be immense, but I thrive in that kind of environment and anyone who saw me against Mario Kindelan in Bolton will know that."

Khan, 21, claims he has not been as nervous for a fight since that night at the Bolton Arena in May 2005 when he bowed out as an amateur by avenging his Olympic final defeat to Kindelan.

"I knew that I needed to win that one," he said. "When I faced him in the Olympic final, there wasn't much pressure on me because I had already exceeded expectations.

"But when I fought Kindelan the second time, I was about to turn professional and losing to him would have taken the gloss off my debut.

"It would really have burst my bubble, and I needed to beat him.

"It's the same against Fagan and I really need to do a number on him."

It's hard to see Fagan causing Khan anything like the trouble Prescott did and promoter Frank Warren has taken more care with his match-making this time.

The Oklahoma-based Dubliner is certainly durable - he took former I BF champion Paul Spadafora to a split decision.

But he has lost five of his 27 fights and will do well to last the distance with Khan in this WBA international lightweight title fight at London's ExCeL arena. Freddie Roach, who has taken over as trainer from the sacked Jorge Rubio, has been working on Khan's defence and even tied his hands behind his back to get him to move his head more.

This has always been seen as Khan's problem as he leads with his head rather than his left jab.

Khan suffered a scare at yesterday's weigh-in and after failing first time on the scales, he only made the 9st 9lbs limit when he completely stripped.

Enzo Maccarinelli will fight on tomorrow's card after all - but at heavyweight.

The Welshman will now take on Matthew Ellis over 10 rounds after stepping up from cruiserweight.

Maccarinelli had been due to challenge Francisco Alvarez for the vacant WBO belt at the lower weight but the Puerto Rican yesterday failed a medical because of high blood pressure.

Alvarez was the third opponent to have been lined up for the fight with Johnathon Banks and Herbie Hide previously pulling out.

Maccarinelli, who lost to David Haye last time out, said: "I'm really p***ed off with everything that has happened so when I get in that ring I'm going to be an angry man throwing bombs."

Audley Harrison is still dreaming of a world title, but has been warned by Warren to forget it if he does not beat Belfast cabbie Martin Rogan in impressive style in their heavyweight clash.

"If he doesn't fight for a world title next year, then it ain't going to happen," said Warren. "And for it to happen, he's got to win well."

TV: Sky Box Office from 10pm.

CAPTION(S):

NO MORE DISASTERS Amir Khan can't afford any mistakes against Oisin Fagan at the ExCeL Centre tonight; STUNNER Amir Khan is knocked out by Breidis Prescott