Amir Khan and Devon Alexander face off during their fight announcement

Amir Khan believes upcoming opponent Devon Alexander represents a tougher test than IBF welterweight champion and British rival Kell Brook.

The Bolton fighter is hoping to use his bout with former two-weight world champion Alexander on December 13 in Las Vegas to catapult him towards a super fight with Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao early next year.

A domestic showdown between Khan and Brook has long been mooted with both fighters stating their willingness, on numerous occasions, to meet the other.

I could have taken an easier fight in fighting Kell Brook in the UK, but that's the type of fighter I am. Amir Khan

That possibility has been shelved for the moment however after Brook was stabbed in Tenerife in September and Khan believes Alexander is actually a tougher fight for him than Brook.

"I could have taken an easier fight in fighting Kell Brook in the UK, but that's the type of fighter I am,” he said.

“I want the exciting fights, I want the tough fights and, while I'm at this age and at my peak, I want to be facing the top guys.

"No disrespect to Kell, I think if it was Kell Brook it would have been an easier fight because he doesn't throw as many punches and he is quite easy to hit even though he beat Shawn Porter, who beat Devon. Styles make fights.

“I want to give the fans what they want, they want to see this fight between me and Devon and that's what they're getting."

Rebuilding

The bout for the lightly-regarded WBC Silver welterweight title represents a crossroads for both fighters who are both in the process of rebuilding their reputations after disappointing defeats – Khan to Danny Garcia and Alexander to Porter.

Alexander lost his world title to Porter in December last year, but proved he is still a threat in the welterweight division by comfortably outpointing fringe contender Jesus Soto Karass in June.

Khan has won three fights since his devastating knockout by Garcia and looked good in his last fight when he comfortably outpointed respected contender Luiz Collazo.

The pair came close to fighting 12 months ago when Alexander still IBF world champion but Khan elected to turn down the opportunity in favour of a potential fight with Mayweather, which failed to materialise.

Despite the wait, Khan is pleased the fight is finally happening and he insists he is not taking the speedy Alexander lightly.

"We knew the fight was going to happen one day because we're both young and we're both at the peak of our career. It's happening a year later which is a good thing," he said.

"There are big goals ahead of us in the future, we know this fight will take us on to bigger and better things so it's all about just working hard and winning this fight.

"The only person in my mind is Devon. I'm not looking past this fight because I made that mistake a long time ago by looking too far ahead and I'm taking one fight a step at a time. I'm going to be focused on this fight.

"I have a game plan to go into the fight and to win the fight and it's all about getting the win. I'm 100 per cent focused on this, I'm not going to let anything get to me or words get to me or affect me in any way."