Khan will continue to make excuses to avoid Brook

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Kell Brook - Amir KhanAs we reported on Tuesday, it appears former light-welterweight champion Amir Khan and IBF World welterweight champion Kell Brook are on the path to a summer showdown in 2016.

However, the 28-year-old Khan doesn’t feel like his domestic rival has done enough to earn the fight and must beat more quality contenders to do so.

Brook believes that his next fight, which he and Matchroom Sport promoter Eddie Hearn are planning for October, will earn him that shot.

If they want to make this the biggest fight possible, there’s no doubt that Wembley Stadium should be at the top of the list as far as venues, which holds 90,000. The next stadium in line would be the Twickenham Stadium, which holds 82,000.

“It doesn’t get any bigger than walking out in your own country, with a packed out stadium, full of people anticipating the fight,” Brook said. “It will fill any open-air arena. I think it will build into an even bigger fight, so we might have to build it up a little bit more.”

The issue that Brook faces now is to find that “quality” opponent that Khan says he must beat for the fight to happen. Former lightweight titlist Brandon Rios was in line for a September shot, but talks fell through over a rematch clause that Brook wanted.

Instead, there are two candidates that are vying to get that shot, including fringe contender Chris van Heerden and 40-year-old Leonard Bundu.

In my opinion, this is not going to get him the fight. For example, van Heerden was scheduled to face Frankie Gavin this past May, but the latter backed out of the fight when he was given the opportunity to fight Brook.

Although Gavin put up a good fight in the first couple of rounds, Brook quickly found his groove and ended his evening in the sixth. The same goes for Leonard Bundu, who knocked down and edged Gavin to defend his European welterweight title last August.

Brook would accomplish nothing by beating any of these guys, and Khan knows it. With Floyd Mayweather Jr. in negotiations to postpone his retirement for an exclusive three-fight extension with Showtime/CBS, the Bolton fighter could use that as an excuse to continue avoiding Brook.

Despite the uncertainty, Brook told Sky Sports that there is hope for fans who have been calling for this fight.

“I know that talks are on the way. It looks like British fans might finally get the fight that is well overdue,” Brook said. “I’m due to fight in October, and I think he is expected to fight in November, so let’s get those wins and build towards a huge summer showdown next year.”

Khan is the WBC Silver welterweight champion and is Mayweather’s mandatory challenger to his WBC World title.

With Lance Pugmire of the LA Times reporting that Mayweather didn’t give Khan the fight for his continuous pessimistic attitude towards the champion, it appears Khan will have to do something extraordinary to get the fight of his dreams.

With Shawn Porter’s unanimous decision victory over Mayweather’s protégé in Adrien Broner in June, if there’s any fight that should be made, it should be Khan-Porter.