By James Slater – If it actually happens, it will possibly be one of the biggest all-British showdowns in recent years; a guaranteed sell-out of whatever U.K venue the fight took place at. Kell Brook Vs. Amir Khan: a clash between the next big thing and the world class-proven former 140-pound king. But will it happen?
Khan, of course, has impending unfinished business with Lamont Peterson (May 19th in Las Vegas) to attend to, but unbeaten Brook wasted no time in calling Khan out last night. Immediately after his wide, near shut-out points win over a gutsy Matthew Hatton, “The Special One” turned his attention Khan’s way.
“I’ve been banging on about me and Amir Khan. If that fight happens, I’ll smash him,” Brook said.
Brook’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, had the following to say:
“I could sell 40,000 tickets. And let me tell you something right now, he would absolutely destroy Amir Khan..”
Khan, though, has said in the past (after his controversial cuts stoppage win over the Hearn-promoted Paul McCloskey) that he will not work with Hearn again. Brook isn’t going to leave his “main man” any time soon, so the fight some would like to see doesn’t look like a dead-cert. This something of a shame, because right now in the U.K fans are talking about this particular domestic rivalry. Just who is the better fighter?
Brook is certainly the bigger fighter; from a physical standpoint. Making Hatton look comparatively small last night, Brook looked very big and very strong for a 147-pounder. Khan on the other hand, has yet to fight above 140. Khan, even before his shock loss to Peterson, said he would be moving up to welterweight and maybe he still plans to. Should he do as the bookies says he will and gain revenge over Peterson on May 19th, his move up to 147 would be greeted with excitement. But will Khan ever have a change of heart and agree to work with Brook’s promoters?
Some say Khan is simply ducking Brook (certainly Kell himself feels this), but is it more likely that Khan, a proven world champion, feels Brook is not in his class? “He’s not on my radar” is a somewhat tired cliché coming from the mouths of certain fighters when speaking of a rival fighter they feel is beneath them but I honestly think, for what it’s worth, that Khan has no real interest in facing Brook – not because he’s scared of him; simply because he has bigger fights in mind.
In today’s modern boxing world, where we have seem must-see match-ups like Mayweather-Pacquiao and Lewis-Bowe fail to materialise, we can stand not seeing Khan-Brook.; as good a fight as it would possibly be. You can write it down: this fight will NOT happen. Despite Brook and his team desperately wanting it to.