JAMIE Cox insists he would already give England's hottest prospect Amir Khan a "real fight" as he continues his journey in professional boxing.

The Swindon southpaw returned to training in Birmingham yesterday, ahead of his next bout on March 22, haven taken a lot of confidence from Khan's weekend showing.

Cox was at the London Excel on Saturday to see the Olympic silver medallist and, despite Khan's points victory over Gairy St Clair, insists the Bolton fighter has yet to be really punched.

Khan is being lined up for a world title shot within the year, after an impressive unbeaten start in the pro game, but Cox believes he has seen nothing to really fear.

The former Walcot man fought at welterweight in his last bout, knocking out Surinder Sekhon, but is eyeing up dropping back to light welter and potentially one day a meeting with Khan.

He said: "I want to get back to light-welterweight and Amir will soon make the step up from lightweight.

"I have to admit I was watching him on Saturday night and I took a lot of encouragement from what I saw.

"I was watching him really closely and there was nothing that worried me. He has good fast hands but does not really punch very hard at all."

Cox has so far won all four of his professional bouts, three of them on points, but knows he has a long way to go before he gets the opportunity to meet the likes of Khan.

But, as he resumes his training schedule with Birmingham-based coach Richie Woodhall, Cox is confident about a successful future insisting even at this stage in his career he could give Khan a fight.

He said: "I could definitely trouble him, I have no doubt about that. No offence to Amir but he is fighting super-featherweights and they never knock people out.

"The guy he was fighting on Saturday night might have troubled him 10 years ago but not now. I don't think he has really been punched.

"I know I have a long way to go but it gives me belief that one day I can reach the top. I just have to keep working hard."

Cox is expected to fight on the undercard of Gavin Rees' WBA light-welterweight defence in Cardiff on March 22, after more than three months out of the ring.

He said: "I can't wait to get started. I have had a couple of months away from it all but now the programme starts again and we build for March."