Johnny Nelson has warned Amir Khan and Kell Brook that ‘the every day man’ will remember the loser of their grudge match – and claims whoever is defeated will see their achievements ‘blanked out’.
Khan and Brook will end years of insults, bad blood and failed match-ups by finally putting their skills to the test on February 19 in Manchester, and Sky Sports boxing expert Nelson believes they are fighting to be on the right side of history.
Nelson was in the middle of the pair during a tense edition of The Gloves are Off on Sky Sports this week and believes their rivalry is the real deal, claiming they will be thinking about each other ‘more than their wife and kids’ in the build up to the fight.
Johnny Nelson (centre) has warned Amir Khan (left) and Kell Brook (right) that history will remember the loser of their grudge match on Saturday night
The bitter rivals will finally settle the score at the Manchester Arena after years of taunts
‘I know personally these guys – this is for real,’ he told Sportsmail. ‘When fighters are trying to fake it, we can tell. This is about something a lot more deep rooted than just wanting to fight someone, there’s a lot on the line for these guys.
‘They both know if they lose – everything they’ve achieved in their careers is going to be blanked out. All they’re going to talk about is the winner and the loser. It won’t be until a boxing historian goes back and says “he did this, this and this”.
‘They may instinctively hug after the fight, but don’t be fooled by that. That’s an emotion when you’re obsessed with an opponent. You think about him every day, more than your wife and kids. You’re consumed by him so once you’ve fought him you hug him. This is real with these boys.’
The showdown in the Manchester Arena comes as something of a relief for both men – who have spent years talking up who is the better fighter, and have been left frustrated by failed negotiations. This will finally settle the score, but both men will be aware that the loser faces being put on history’s scrap pile, Nelson says.
Their rivalry is ‘the real deal’, says Nelson, and he says they will be ‘consumed’ with each other this week and might think about each other ‘more than their wife and kids’
‘Defeat doesn’t tarnish their legacy, but this is the fight that people will talk about,’ he added. ‘This fight has captured the imagination of the every day man. That crowd – the masses – they’re the ones you want to convince.
‘I do think that [the loser hangs up their gloves]. You’ve got two fighters with a lot of pride that know they are no longer world beaters. They’ve had a crack at a world title at this level and fell short.
‘Realistically, as an ex-fighter myself, would I have wanted to carry on after being beaten by my domestic rival? No I wouldn’t because where is my ambition? It tells you I’m just after the money. This is a big money fight, but pride also takes place as well.’
Khan is seen as the slight favourite for this bout with the speed advantage, though Brook has promised he will dodge and counter his quick hands with his expert timing. Nelson admits he too is leaning towards Khan – fearing Brook could be ‘peppered’ by his lightning hands – but says he cannot honestly put money on which way the fight will go.
‘They’ve both deteriorated in the same way,’ he continued. ‘At first I thought Amir beats Kell, then I thought Kell beats Amir as years went on. Now, I actually can’t say. I wouldn’t put my house on it.
Nelson believes Khan’s (right) lightning quick hands could cause a big problem for Brook
The Sky Sports boxing expert feels Khan has the upper hand but he won’t put money on result
‘Take away Amir’s speed you have a broken man.
‘Kell Brook’s timing and power, determination – take that away and you have a man who has no resistance and who can be taken out with a shot he can’t stand up to.
‘How long will it last? Kell Brook needs to fight like he did against Shawn Porter – relentless, unpredictable, fierce, strong, not giving a man a breather.
‘I don’t think either fighter can keep it up for 12 rounds. We’ll get most of the action first half. I’d be very surprised if we got to the end of the fight.
‘Who has the upper hand? It’s got to be Khan. Khan’s speed says it all, but it’s a case of how long he can keep it up. Brook’s timing means he’s got to get peppered for two or three rounds before he finds the distance and gets inside against that speed.
He admitted Brook’s resistance could be vulnerable – as seen in his loss to Terence Crawford
He urged the Sheffield fighter (right) to recapture the spirit of his world title win over Shawn Porter – where he was ‘relentless, unpredictable and fierce’
‘In that short space of time, Khan’s got to inflict as much damage physically and mentally on Brook to set a footprint. So it’s advantage to Khan.’
When this fight was made there was mixed feelings. No doubt the excitement to see these two in the ring is still there. This event sold out in 10 minutes – one of the fastest-selling sporting events in British sporting history.
But there was also question mark over why this was taking place with both men on the verge of retirement, rather than when they were both world title holders.
Nelson says Khan and Brook have made ‘ridiculous’ excuses for not getting this fight sorted in previous years, but doesn’t think fans will get a lesser spectacle now. Instead, he feels both men have deteriorated at the same pace and will ‘engage more’ now than they would’ve done in their primes.
‘I was absolutely gutted [it didn’t take place earlier]. I stopped falling in love with the idea of it,’ he says. ‘Whenever interviewed about it i’d say, “it’s never going to happen”. The excuses were ridiculous.
He took aim at both fighters for ‘ridiculous’ excuses in not making the fight but believes fans will get a better fight now than when they were in their primes as they will ‘engage more’
‘As a fighting man, you know if you want to fight someone. You don’t blame somebody else. I’m gutted it didn’t happen five or 10 years ago when these guys were fresher.
‘Now we have to make the most of what we’ve got. Both have deteriorated at the same pace. Both are still dangerous and it will play out in the first half exactly as it would’ve done 10 years ago. They will actually engage more because they’ve slowed down! So there will probably more action in this fight than 10 years ago.
‘This week is going to be the one where skulduggery will be played. Khan is a lot more media savvy than Brook. But inside he will be thinking “I cannot lose to this guy”. It’s about who’s got the best poker face, and that’s Amir at the moment.
‘All we can do is wait until the bell goes. If these guys have still got it, we will see.’
Watch the BOXXER grudge match between Amir Khan and Kell Brook exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office on Saturday from 6pm via www.skysports.com/boxoffice
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