AFTER Storm Eunice – expect a hurricane in the ring as Amir Khan takes on Kell Brook.
Khan and Brook have long been touted for a big dust-up but have never managed to put pen-to-paper on a deal, until now.
Now that both fighters are at the ends of their careers, Khan and Brook have put their egos aside squaring up in Friday’s weigh-in before lacing up their gloves in Manchester this evening.
Khan has not been in action for over two years, having last beat Billy Dib in a farcical fight back in the summer of 2019.
Before that he lost a world title fight at welterweight against pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford, who he trained with in Nebraska ahead of his clash with Brook.
And it was Crawford who Brook last fought in November 2020, when Bud stopped Special K in the fourth round of their Las Vegas match-up.
In a fight which could define both fighters’ careers, Brook and Khan will put it all on the line when they meet in the middle of the ring at the AO Arena on February 19.
BETTING SPECIAL – GET KHAN AT HUGE 40/1 OR BROOK AT 30/1 FOR BOXING SHOWDOWN
When is Khan vs Brook?
- Khan’s massive clash with Brook will take place on Saturday, February 19 in Manchester.
- The bout will be held at the AO Arena, which hosted Derek Chisora vs Joseph Parker 2 back in December.
- The event sold out in minutes and there will be 20,000 fans in attendance at the event.
- Ring-walks for the main event will get underway from around 10.30pm UK time.
What TV channel is Khan vs Brook and can it be live streamed?
- Khan vs Brook will be shown live on Sky Sports Box Office for fans in the UK.
- The event will cost £19.95 to purchase, and starts at 6pm.
- Boxxer are promoting the show.
- SunSport will be covering every blow with our live blog on the night.
- Radio coverage is live on talkSPORT all evening.
What happened at the weigh in?
Both boxers made weight for the huge grudge fight, which is being fought at 149lbs catchweight – two pounds over welterweight.
Kell Brook weighed in a pound under on 148lbs, while Amir Khan came in at 147lbs – the welterweight limit.
A £100,000 fine per pound was in place if any fighter was over weight.
Khan vs Brook FULL CARD
Tokyo 2020 bronze winner Frazer Clarke makes his heavyweight debut against a TBC opponent, as he aims to follow in the footsteps of Team GB giants Anthony Johsua and Joe Joyce by grabbing an Olympic and becoming a pro star.
At 30-years-old already, with a long and impressive amateur record and thousands of rounds sparring AJ in the bank, Clarke will be fastracked by Boxxer and Sky Sports toward major fights.
KHAN VS BROOK – LATEST ODDS AND FREE BETS
Viddal Riley – the cruiserweight who found fame by coaching internet sensation KSI for his celebrity boxing bouts – looks to improve on his record with a bout against journeyman Willbeforce Shihepo.
After failed world title bids at super-feather and lightweight, Liverpool queen Natasha Jonas jumps up to super-welterweight to get a crack at the WBO world title against Chris Namus.
The 37-year-old mother has suffered harsh decisions in her two most high profile bouts – against Terri Harper and Katie Taylor – so will be desperate to finally grab a world honour.
- Amir Khan vs Kell Brook (12 rounds – catchweight, 149lbs)
- Natasha Jonas vs Chris Namus (WBO world super welterweight title)
- Charlie Schofield vs Germaine Brown(English super middleweight title)
- Bradley Rea vs Craig McCarthy (Middleweight)
- Frazer Clarke vs TBA (Heavyweight)
- Viddal Riley vs Willbeforce Shihepo (Cruiserweight)
- Adam Azim vs Jordan Ellison (Lightweight)
- Hassan Azim vs MJ Hall (Welterweight)
- Abdul Khan vs Ricky Starkey (Lightweight)
- Ibrahim Nadim vs Taka Bembere (Super featherweight)
Who is Amir Khan’s new trainer?
Khan is hoping he has the secret weapon in his corner to beat Kell Brook in trainer Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre’.
And the American certainly knows a thing or two about both Brits ahead of their Manchester grudge scrap.
Back in November 2020 McIntyre guided Crawford to a stunning fourth-round KO of Brook at an empty MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
And Khan has decided to let bygones be bygones after his own defeat to Crawford in April 2019.
That ended is somewhat controversial fashion with Khan pulled out by his corner after six rounds.
What has been said?
Khan said: “In the past 10 years I have fought two of the best pound-for-pound best fighters.
“I have never run from Kell. I have never needed to. What I have achieved speaks for itself.
“There is no point crying about the past. In the past he hasn’t deserved this fight. Come February 19 it will be time to see if he can back those words up.
“I am coming levels down by taking this fight. I have fought the best in the world. I have conquered America.
“But people want to see me punch him in the face.
“It’s my time now to put him in his place and move onto bigger and better things.”
Brook said: “He’s in cuckoo land.
“You are getting knocked clean out. I will knock you spark out. That’s when Amir Khan will hit the deck for the final time.
“He’s always veered off, never given me respect, never acknowledged me.
“He has said: ‘Win a world title then I will fight you, fight this guy then I will fight you’. He has run away.
“It has got to a part of his career where there is nowhere else for him to run.
“I have wanted it for many years.”
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Schofield vs Brown
Round 3 – Brown scores with a lead uppercut as he gets Schofield’s back against the ropes.
Scholfield scores with a right hand down the middle as Brown was coming in, looking to close the distance.
Probably Schofield’s best round as he found his range easier, but again Brown was the busier fighter as we head into round four.
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Schofield vs Brown
Round 2 – Brown again closing the range and looking to land looping hooks on the inside.
Scholfield scoring with the odd counter uppercut but nothing to stop Brown coming forward.
We head into round three.
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Schofield vs Brown
Round 1 – Quick start from Brown, who landed beautifully with the jab to head and body in the opening round.
Schofield’s right eye already looks to be swelling as he struggled to keep Brown at bay.
We head into round two.
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Khan vs Brook undercard latest
Charlie Schofield and Germaine Brown in the ring now boxing for the English super-middleweight title.
This should be a cracker to open the big PPV card here in Manchester.
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On the undercard
- Amir Khan vs Kell Brook (catchweight 149lbs)
- Natasha Jonas vs Chris Namus (WBO world super welterweight title)
- Charlie Schofield vs Germaine Brown(English super middleweight title)
- Bradley Rea vs Craig McCarthy (Middleweight)
- Frazer Clarke vs TBA (Heavyweight)
- Viddal Riley vs Willbeforce Shihepo (Cruiserweight)
- Adam Azim vs Jordan Ellison (Lightweight)
- Hassan Azim vs MJ Hall (Welterweight)
- Abdul Khan vs Ricky Starkey (Lightweight)
- Ibrahim Nadim vs Taka Bembere (Super featherweight)
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Khan vs Brook is finally HERE
Twenty years since their first schoolboy spar and a whole decade after they initially vowed to knock each other out on Sky Sports’ Ringside show, Amir Khan and Kell Brook are FINALLY set to meet.
There is almost nothing these two 35-year-olds have been able to agree on in that time – apart from the number of zeroes on their cheques for tonight’s showdown.
The barbs have taken a sinister twist this week, with Brook strongly denying Khan’s accusation of racism after his ‘poppadum chin’ remarks
But they have been bubbling away since before Bolton’s King Khan became a household name by winning silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
With that, the baby-faced 17-year-old jumped above Brook in the pecking order for the era of British boxing that followed.
Khan’s Olympic final was watched by eight million people on terrestrial TV, Brook’s untelevised pro debut a few weeks later barely had 1,000 in attendance.
Then Khan capitalised on his fame to take his mega-money PPV roadshow to America while Brook took the hard route to his IBF world title.
Even when matchmaker supreme Eddie Hearn had them both signed up to his Matchroom brand, Khan cut a three-fight deal early to leave Brook hanging and face Terence Crawford instead.
But now – with very few avenues left open to them and Sky Sports willing to throw bundles at the pair – they will finally crown a 147lbs king of the North.
Brook will always insist Khan ducked him until the very end, Khan will forever believe he was a league above before they even got started.
It doesn’t matter now. We’re about to see which shadow can still shine.