Don King wants a rematch between Amir Khan and Marco Antonio Barrera after claiming that Khan's win was "tainted".

The fighters clashed heads in the first round but the referee allowed the bout to go on until the fifth before it was deemed the Mexican, who was suffering from a severely cut forehead, was in no position to continue.

As the clash was ruled accidental the fight went to the scorecards, with the classy Khan winning by 50-44 and 50-45 twice.

Had the fight been stopped in the fourth round, it would have been declared a no-result, triggering a rematch.

And Barrera's promoter King, who declined to attend the post-fight press conference, is now insisting the referee and ringside doctors should have acted sooner.

He said in a statement: "Amir Khan is in possession of a tainted victory.

"The referee and doctor should have stopped the fight immediately after that incredible, accidental clash of heads.

"That they allowed the fight to continue with Barrera competing at a huge disadvantage goes against everything that's designed to protect the health and safety of boxers, the good of the sport and uphold the traditions emanating from the Marquis of Queensbury rules."

King is taking his case to the British Boxing Board of Control, World Boxing Organisation and World Boxing Association to get the outcome changed to a no contest.

He added: "Marco Antonio Barrera should not lose any of his position and stature to this travesty of justice.

"He should not be punished for what was beyond his control. He fought like the great Mexican champion he is with valour, courage and honour while those charged with ensuring a level field of competition failed the sport and the fighter greatly.

"They endangered his health and safety and every other boxer who follows him into the ring hereafter if this error in judgment is not corrected.

"Knowing the rules of the sport originated in England and are designed to create a level playing field to protect boxers from fighting at a disadvantage after an accident, the decision to wait until the fourth round for a doctor's inspection and the subsequent stoppage the following round certainly raises needless questions and suspicions.

"Barrera needed a seeing-eye dog to make it back to his corner from the first round but the officials let it continue.

"This dangerous officiating, if not corrected, leaves a black eye on the sport.

"This is why I am appealing to Paco Valcarcel at the WBO; Gilberto Mendoza Jr at the WBA; and everyone at the British Boxing Board of Control to correct this egregious error and order an immediate rematch."