Amir Khan vs. Kell Brook Fight Talks Revealed by Boxing Promoter Eddie Hearn
There is a “good chance” that Amir Khan and Kell Brook will finally fight in May 2017, with the duo said to be "in talks" over a showdown, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.
A bout between the two British boxing rivals has long been mooted, but each fighter has explored different avenues in their recent outings. However, speaking to BBC Sport, Hearn, who is Brook's promoter, provided some encouraging news for those hoping to see the pair go head-to-head.
“There's a good chance of it [the bout] happening,” he said. “Amir wants it to happen, so does Kell. We want to put a fight on for the fans.”
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When asked about a possible venue for the fight, Hearn said it could be staged “up north in Manchester Arena or Old Trafford.”
Khan hinted himself on Tuesday that a meeting between the two was in the pipeline, posting the following snap on social media:
Brook offered a response on his own Twitter account, adding that negotiations have started over a potential bout:
It’s a fight that fans of British boxing have wanted to see for a long time. Tactically, the agility and raw speed of Khan would be a fascinating matchup for the rounded skill set of Brook, while there’s clearly needle between the two that’d make the promotion fascinating.
Additionally, both men would head into the fight after suffering defeats, adding extra pressure to the occasion.
Brook’s loss came against middleweight king Gennady Golovkin in September. The Sheffield-born puncher acquitted himself well jumping up two weight classes, but his corner eventually pulled him out of the fight due to an injury to his eye.
Kevin Mitchell of the Guardian was impressed with how Brook handled himself in an unfamiliar division and up against a ferocious opponent:
Khan also stepped up in weight in his last fight to take on Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and, like Brook, performed admirably in the early stages. However, the Mexican landed a shuddering right hand in the sixth round of the contest to leave Khan floored, prompting the referee to instantly wave the action off.
The Bolton fighter finds himself at a critical stage in his career. The loss against Alvarez was the fourth of his professional career and the first time he had fought in just under a year. Now 30, Khan is in his peak years and will feel as though he needs to secure a big win.
The same could be said of Brook, also 30, ahead of what would be a potentially defining fight. His loss to Golovkin was the first of his career and although he received praise for the manner in which he applied himself in the bout, the Sheffield star will know a win in his next outing is vital.
For both, a victory on what'd be a huge stage could be a potential catalyst for more intriguing bouts further down the line. It’d also finally offer an answer to one of the biggest debates among British boxing fans in the last few years.
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