Amir Khan sees his fight against Devon Alexander as a springboard to bigger things.

But the Briton says it does not mean he will take the American southpaw lightly when mey meet in Las Vegas on December 13.

"Obviously it's going to catapult the winner to bigger fights," Khan said in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

"Alexander wants the big fight and I want the big fight against Mayweather [or] Pacquiao.

"First of all I have to get through this fight in good style. I'm not looking past this fight. I have to stay hungry, stay focused."

In a sense, the bout between Khan and Alexander has been a year in the making. Khan, a former IBF and WBA light-welterweight champion was slated to fight Alexander, whose record of 26-2 included 14 knockouts, last December in New York.

At the time, Alexander held the IBF welterweight title, but Khan opted out of the bout, thinking he was in line for a mega-fight with Mayweather that never materialised.

Since then, Alexander has surrendered the title to Shawn Porter, and Khan's fellow Brit Kell Brook seized it from Porter in August.

Khan won his welterweight debut in May, when he looked impressive in a unanimous decision over former champion Luis Collazo.

That bout was on the undercard of Mayweather's fight against Marcos Maidana, whom the unbeaten American selected in preference to Khan. Khan quickly shook off any rust from a 12-month ring absence.

It took his record to 29-3, with 19 knockouts and September Khan has been training in Oakland, California, with Virgil Hunter.

"We're way ahead of schedule," he said of his preparations, adding that, owing to Hunter's tutelage, Alexander would face a better Khan than he would have encountered a year ago.

"I've made a lot of improvements," Khan said. "I'm a better fighter defensively. I'm more focused, I'm more patient. I'm more of a smart fighter."

Those improvements would stand him in good stead if the call from Mayweather ever comes. But if the American again drags his feet, a victory over Alexander could put Khan in line for an all-British blockbuster against Brook.

Brook is determined to continue his career as soon as he has recovered from being stabbed in the leg while on holiday on the Spanish island of Tenerife.