Top Rank CEO Bob Arum has revealed his belief that Kell Brook is a bigger name in the UK than Amir Khan, and he doesn’t believe the latter will fight Floyd Mayweather.
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The welterweight division is now open for business after all eyes were on Las Vegas this past weekend with Mayweather defeating Manny Pacquiao in a one-sided points win.
While ‘Money’ revealed that he will vacate his belts and will also retire after his last fight in September, Pac-Man will be sidelined for a significant period of time as he is scheduled to undergo shoulder surgery on a torn rotator cuff which could result in more than nine months on the sidelines.
As a result, Khan’s fight with Chris Algieri on May 29, which is swiftly followed by Brook vs Frankie Gavin on May 30, will now potentially determine what happens next in the division.
Khan has continued to suggest that Mayweather’s camp has contacted him regarding a fight later in the year, but Arum doesn’t see it happening and has questioned the Brit’s desire to face Pacquiao.
“He will never fight Floyd Mayweather, never, never,” he said, according to Boxing Scene.
“Amir Khan means a lot in England, a lot but not great. He is not as big as [Carl] Froch, I don’t think he is as big as Kell Brook. He needs something.
“In the United States, Amir Khan means nothing and I mean nothing.”
The Bolton-born fighter has based himself in America for a big period of his career and has continuously used his apparent popularity Stateside as an argument to suggest not only that he deserves to face Mayweather, but in turn is also too big a name for Brook.
Arum added that Khan’s team went silent when he offered them a chance to face Pacquiao before the fight with Mayweather was made, and doubts that they will re-visit that opportunity any time soon.
However, British boxing fans remain hopeful that they will see Brook and Khan face off in the ring eventually, although they may be forced to wait until next summer.
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