Dean Francis is pursuing a 'Battle of Britain' showdown with Enzo Maccarinelli.

But the Bristol-based British light heavyweight champion must first get past London's Joey Vegas on Frank Warren's Sky TV promotion at Swindon's Oasis Leisure Centre on Friday night.

Former European cruiserweight boss Maccarinelli is due to appear on the undercard of next month's Amir Khan versus Marco Antonio Barrera match-up in Manchester.

But two opponents have already dropped out and Bristol Fight Factory star Francis is being touted as a possible replacement.

"There is a chance it could happen," said Fight Factory spokesman Dean Cooper.

"Maccarinelli has been let down and there are a lot of rumours about Dean stepping in on March 14.

"Nothing has been decided yet, but if Dean looks good and beats Vegas in style in front of the Sky TV cameras, it could happen.

"He needs a really big performance on Friday, though."

Francis has been inactive since bludgeoning Portsmouth's Tony Oakey into ninth round submission to claim the British title in June last year. But even a ring-rusty Francis ought to have too much class and power for Tottenham-based underdog Vegas, whose record shows 11 wins and four defeats.

Scheduled for eight three minute rounds, the contest is unlikely to go the distance if Francis reproduces the form which swept Oakey aside seven months ago.

Bristol is well represented on Warren's latest show and Francis will be joined in Swindon by Fight Factory stablemates Dan Stewart, Adam Cummings, Marlon Reid and Chris Higgs.

Former ABA junior finalist Reid seeks to extend his winning record to three fights in a four-round middleweight contest against Luton's Sherman Alleyne, while Gloucester-based featherweight Higgs continues his education when he meets Birmingham's durable Syd Razak over the same distance.

In confident mood following a series of three straight victories, Bristol light welterweight Stewart tackles East Ham journeyman Johnny Greaves and Cummings, who fought a draw on his professional debut in December, meets Birmingham-based veteran Karl Taylor in a lightweight contest scheduled for four threes.