With the big fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao getting closer, Amir Khan once again sees his dream fight with Mayweather slip away. But that other big fight out there for Khan is still available.
Kell Brook has been calling the 28-year old fighter from Bolton out for years. However, after winning the IBF welterweight title by beating Shawn Porter last summer, Brook’s claim to fight Khan became a lot stronger.
The 28-year old fighter from Sheffield is expected to make his return to the ring, after recovering from being stabbed while on vacation in Spain, next March. If we have to believe the rumors, Paulie Malignaggi is the likely opponent for that date.
A bigger fight is planned for the summer. Reports say that Eddie Hearn, Brook’s promotor, did already book Wembley for the IBF champion’s second defense on June 13. Logical opponent for that date seems to be Khan
However, reported by Boxingscene.com, in an interview with The Bolton News, Khan stated that he is still not interested in fighting his British rival.
“I could make money out of fighting Kell Brook, but it is not about money for me. Kell Brook is not in my sights at the moment. Eddie Hearn booking Wembley is a bit silly, he is going to lose his money.”
While Khan says that he is not interested in fighting Brook next, he doesn’t close the book on the fight for the future.
“With Kell Brook it is personal now. I was respectful with him, but he is taking it to a different level. When he did beat Shaw Porter I was respectful and said he did well. Now he is calling me out. I know the fight will happen one day, but I want the big names first.”
Did Eddie Hearn overplay his hand by already booking Wembley? If the negotiations between Mayweather and Pacquiao fall apart, Maywather-Khan seems inevitable.
Or is a fight between Brook and 40-year old Mexican legend Juan Manual Marquez still in play? That fight probably wouldn’t fill 80,000 seats, but with some big names on the undercard it should sell pretty well.
