Amir Khan has responded to Kell Brook and insisted that he would “love to shut him up” but doesn’t see a fight with his domestic rival happening this summer.
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Brook called out Khan over the weekend after defeating Jo Jo Dan in a mandatory defence of his IBF welterweight title. However, attention quickly switched to Brook vs Khan after the fight, and the Sheffield-born fighter said he wants that bout next.
However, his rival has consistently poured cold water over the idea and is looking to get back out in action again at the end of May or start of June.
Speculation has suggested that Chris Algieri may be his next opponent, according to Boxing Scene, but promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that he has 48 hours to give him an answer on a domestic clash as he has an event pencilled in for June 13 at Wembley.
While that is unlikely to happen, Khan has come forward and responded to Brook and given his take on the matter with public demand growing for the bout to take place.
“He’s only beaten one good fighter, [Shawn] Porter,” Khan told ESPN.
“He needs some good wins against the likes of [Brandon] Rios, [Juan Manuel] Marquez, [Keith] Thurman, [Marcos] Maidana and the fight will be even bigger.
“I’d love to shut him up, [but] why give someone a payday when they constantly disrespect you all the time? The fight will happen when it’s meant to happen. Before the fight he said I bring nothing to the table, no title and he don’t need to fight me as he’s the champion. Now he’s calling me out.”
Dan Rafael adds in the post that he pressed Khan on going ahead and shutting him up by defeating him, and it appears as though he was receptive to the idea and added that they should start talks.
It is unclear as to what is holding Khan back from agreeing to the fight, but it is obvious that a lot would be on the line for him and if he lost it would be devastating for his career.
However, it would also give him the biggest pay-day of his career so far, put him on a completely new platform in front of 80,000 people at Wembley and give him a chance at winning a world title which he can then go on and use as a bargaining chip in negotiations with either Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao.
It is difficult to understand what he would achieve by beating the likes of Algieri or Adrien Broner, but it appears as though Khan has his route and is sticking to it.
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