Khan: Brook needs to fight top-level fighters

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Amir KhanWBC Silver welterweight champion Amir Khan (31-3, 19 KO’s) is stirring the pot once again.

Four days after telling World Boxing News that he was open to Kell Brook and Manny Pacquiao fights in the future, the former light-welterweight titlist decided to dive into the gossip train regarding his domestic rival’s next fight, speaking with IFL TV.

“I’ve heard rumor that he [Brook] wants to fight Bundu or Van Heerden,” Khan said. “He needs to go and fight some top level fighters.”
Now, before you go ballistic. Khan never states where he heard these “rumors” from, only that he’s “heard” them.

Bundu (32-1-2, 11 KO’s) is a 40-year old former European welterweight champion. His notable bouts include a split decision win over Frankie Gavin, and a unanimous decision loss against Keith Thurman.
His most recent bout was an eight-round unanimous decision victory over Pablo Munguia.

Bundu is a good boxer; very awkward, but not a very exciting fighter, hence why most people don’t know much about him. With that being said, a fight with Brook is unlikely, and I don’t think Khan was particularly being truthful.

I’m not calling Khan a liar. I think he’s trying to get in Brook’s head because he knows a fight between them is inevitable, and certainly would be one of the most lucrative in British boxing history.

Chris Van Heerden (23-1, 12 KO’s) is the current IBF International welterweight champion following a split decision victory over Cecil McCalla.

He was scheduled to fight Frankie Gavin earlier this year in May, but the Birmingham fighter backed out of the bout for the opportunity to take on Brook, which he lost.

Van Heerden is a solid fighter, but he lacks the tools to challenge the top-tier of the division. He is a come forward type of fighter, bullies you on the inside, but he doesn’t have a lot of power.

Also, he can get careless on the inside, leaving his chin open for a big punch. However, he hasn’t faced anyone who can take advantage of that weakness. Comparing Ramon Ayala with Kell Brook is simply ludicrous.

While Khan is lecturing Brook about not fighting top-level fighters, let’s keep in mind that Khan’s last five opponents have included the likes of Carlos Molina, Julio Diaz, Luis Collazo, Devon Alexander, and Chris Algieri.

Are any of those guys top-level fighters right now? No. Have they been at some point in their career? Luis Collazo and Devon Alexander, respectively.

But, Collazo hasn’t held a legitimate world title in over a decade, and Alexander has been on the decline since losing his IBF title to Shawn Porter.

Chris Algieri, though, I’m still going to give a chance. Although he clearly lost to Amir Khan, he fought a much better fight, an improvement from his fight against Manny Pacquiao last November, where he was dropped six times in a unanimous decision defeat.

Julio Diaz last held the IBF title in 2007, but has gone 6-7-1 since with four defeats by knockout.

If Khan is unable to secure a bout against Floyd Mayweather Jr., a super fight against Brook appears to be on the horizon.

Let’s be real folks, Brook is willing to fight anyone, and he has the record to prove it. Amir Khan has been pursuing money and not much other than that, proven by his excessive attempts and failures to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Brook-Khan: let’s make it happen.