As the next generation of welterweights jostle for supremacy in anticipation of Floyd “Money” Mayweather’s retirement, Kell Brook is the latest champion hoping to acquire his mantle as boxing’s best 147 pound fighter.
Englishman Brook won the International Boxing Federation welter title after 12 bloody rounds against American Shawn Porter at the StubHub Center, Los Angeles on Saturday.
As soon as “The Special One’s” hand was raised, the thought of his next opponent was not far from his mind – Amir Khan.
Brook, 28, and Khan have been trading taunts for years, since their amateur days when they were rivals then, and the stage is now set for a showdown at a massive venue in the U.K., possibly Wembley Stadium where 80,000 fans crammed to watch super- middleweights Carl Froch and George Groves a couple of months ago. The friction between Brook and Khan is so intense that Wembley Stadium could be filled again.
Brook is unbeaten in 33 bouts and so confident of victory that his promoter Eddie Hearn offered Khan $8 million when his shot against Mayweather fell through in favor of a Marcos Maidana rematch.
Khan, 27, announced before Brook’s fight with Porter that he wanted an immediate match with the winner and that Brook had been using his fame to draw attention.
Brook, from Sheffield, has shown immense patience to get to this level. He was waiting 18 months for his title shot after seeing three fights with Devon Alexander fall through, with Porter taking advantage to defeat Alexander and claim the belt. Brook took his chance in a tight and at times messy clash, with the judges handing him the verdict 114-114, 117-111, 116-112. Now he can call the shots rather than hope for opportunities against elite fighters.
Khan (29-3) may still get his chance against Mayweather and although he wants to accommodate Brook, has other plans.
Brook said that he knows Khan does not like him but as a world title belt holder his rival has to consider a fight with him.
Khan does not need to be goaded though. “If the fight can happen, let’s make it happen,” said Khan who is actually seeking a bout against Devon Alexander or Robert Guerrero in England before the end of the year.
Khan also wants a mega-contest in 2015, possibly against Manny Pacquiao or Mayweather, but Brook is another option for a huge payday.
“The British public want it,” said Brook. “He’ll probably say that I need to win another title for the fight.”
But Khan insists he is not avoiding Brook and said: “I’m up for it. I think I’d like that in somewhere like Wembley Stadium, we can fill that out, that would be a quick sell.
“It’s the fight that the UK fans want to see and have been talking about for such a long time.”
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