Boxing: Khan and Brook can finally put dispute to rest in Manchester

A fight 20 years in the making and probably six years too late, Amir Khan and Kell Brook finally get in the ring together in Manchester in a fight that is more about cashing in on a personal gripe than any ambition about getting back to world level. But there is little point trying to work out who was the better of Khan and Brook at their peak, that boat has sailed. Picking a winner here is about working out who has the most left now.

A grudge match with history

Brook spent nearly all his career wanting to face Khan, while Khan was fixated for much of his career with boxing Floyd Mayweather. The perfect time for them to meet would have been 2016, after Mayweather had snubbed Khan once again, deciding to go back on the result of his own fan poll set up to decide his next opponent (Khan was a clear winner).

Brook was then IBF welterweight champion, but Oscar De La Hoya, Khan’s former promoter, texted him to offer him a fight with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez for the WBC welterweight title, a fight that would be the first to be held at the new T-Mobile Arena just off the Las Vegas Strip.

Khan said yes, despite the reluctance of his then trainer, Virgil Hunter. Almost to prove a point, Brook also said ‘yes’ when he offered a step up to middleweight to face the murderous punching Gennady Golovkin.

Both fights ended badly. Khan started well but was knocked unconscious in the sixth round, while Brook suffered a fractured eye socket as his corner threw in the towel in the fifth round. Neither fighter has been the same since.

Back in 2016, the fight seemed logical. Khan would dominate early, using his speed and Brook’s chance would come from the mid-rounds as he began to time Khan’s attacks. In the view of many, Brook would need a stoppage to win, if it went the distance, Khan would be the boxer having his hand raised. But here they still are, six years later and the key to finding the winner, may be just which one is the more past it.

Khan an unknown quantity

Khan has been so inactive that it is very difficult to tell what he has left. His last bout of any note was back in 2019 when he boxed Terence Crawford for the WBO welterweight title. Crawford dominated but after being punched low, Khan, perhaps panicking, said he did not want to go on.

Later that year he boxed Billy Dib, an Australian super-featherweight, in Saudi Arabia, winning easily and, according to Khan’s recent claims, being paid £10million for the mismatch. It has been more than two-and-half years since he has even stepped in a ring. That sort of thing does not reveal a boxer with much ambition left. While Khan has not ballooned up in weight, he has never been one to stay in the gym when there is not a fight in the diary.

What can we expect from Khan after so long out of the ring?

Brook form a concern

Brook’s form is more recent, but possibly more worrying. He had failed to really impress in two bouts before his own fight with Crawford, but fell to pieces against the American, not known as a particularly explosive puncher, in a manner that made you wonder whether his punch has gone. Khan has always been a fabulous athlete and, while people talk about his bad chin, you can’t ever question his heart.

The other thing he has always had is exceptional handspeed. Age might take the edge off that, but the chances are he is still quick and is unlikely to have changed his style too much, even with his switch of trainer to Brian McIntyre (Crawford’s trainer). And one thing Khan has nearly always done is make a lightning start. Go back through his career and his performance in the first round or so has been sensational, as opponents have struggled to adjust to his pace.

In his first world title defence, he stopped Dmitry Salita in 76 seconds, on his Las Vegas debut, he dropped Marcos Maidana in the first round, Lamont Peterson was down in the first, Danny Garcia was close to being stopped in the first couple of rounds before landing a Hail Mary of a left hook. Hunter tried to make him more circumspect, but even in his more recent fights he has rushed opponents. Phil Lo Greco lasted 39 seconds, was down in the second and third rounds before dragging his way back into the fight.

Taking the fight to Brook before his great rival has the chance to find his feet is a dangerous strategy, because he might just walk into a big punch himself, but it could work and if, as Khan seems to believe, Brook’s punch resistance is gone, it could be something that he tries. This might not quite be the end, though. There is a rematch clause of some kind in the contract. There have been whispers around the promotion that there are hopes it could be the start of a trilogy.

If it is not over early, it could turn into a cagey affair, with Brook trying to pressure Khan. Because of this, never rule out the draw.

Jones can edge out Namus

The chief support in Manchester sees Natasha Jonas faces Chris Namus, of Uruguay, for the vacant WBO super-welterweight title. These are interesting times for women’s boxing, but this is essentially a fight that would never be approved in men’s boxing. Jonas is a super-featherweight, who stepped up to lightweight to challenge Katie Taylor for her undisputed world lightweight title.

Even for her one bout since then, taken at a few days’ notice, she weighed under 10st. Now she is boxing for a world title at 11st, a sign of a desperation by the promoters to get her a world title fight, when all the numerous belts in the four weight divisions below are tied up.

Namus, 34, has boxed in a good grade and is a former IBF champion. But she has not boxed in 18 months and took the fight as a late-notice substitute, so her fitness has to be taken on trust. Despite having boxed in much higher weight divisions, she is only half-an-inch taller. The chances are that Jonas could pick up a narrow points decision.

Recommended Bets:

Khan v Brook - Khan win rounds 1-3 @ 19

Khan v Brook Result: Khan to win @ 2.42

Jones v Namus - Jonas to win @ 1.09