‘I’m going to retire you this fight, stand over you and say “I told you so” when I knock you spark out’: Kell Brook vows to finish Amir Khan in all-British grudge match confirmed for February 19 as rivals clash at press conference
- Boxxer have announced that Amir Khan will fight Kell Brook in February
- It is a British blockbuster which looked like it would never take place
- Amir Khan teased a fight announcement with a post on social media
- It has been confirmed that the British stars will go toe-to-toe on February 19
Amir Khan and Kell Brook will finally fight after their February 19 blockbuster was confirmed.
There had been fears that both men may retire without ever having faced each other but Boxxer officially announced the event on Monday morning.
Both men have a huge number of fans and no doubt it will be a sell-out on neutral ground in Manchester.
Amir Khan and Kell Brook went back-and-forth in a heated press conference
Khan will take on his British rival Brook next year on February 19 in Manchester
Brook, like Khan is a former world champion and the pair previously sparred together
Former WBA and IBF light-welterweight champion Khan, 34, last fought in July 2019 when a victory over Billy Dib took his record to 34-5 (21 KOs).
Brook, an ex-IBF welterweight title holder, was most recently in action with defeat to WBO champion Terence Crawford in November 2020. The 35-year-old’s record is 39-3 (27 KOs).
Both men addressed the media on Monday afternoon at a press conference held to promote the 2022 fight.
When asked why there is such animosity between them, Brook said: ‘He’s always seemed to veer off from fighting me, he’s never given me any respect, he’s never acknowledge me, he’s saying “fight this guy and I’ll fight you”, win a world title and I’ll fight you, he’s always run away. He’s got nowhere else to run now, this is the biggest fight out there for him. It has been so frustrating for me, I’ve been wanting this for many years.’
And when given the right of reply, Khan said: ‘I respect him as a fighter, he’s fought big names but in the last 10 years I’ve fought two of the best pound-for-pound fighters. I never ran from Kell, never needed to and what I’ve achieved in the sport speaks for itself.’
Khan is in the twilight of his career and this could be the best way to bow out if he does
‘It is like I’m coming levels down, taking this fight. I’ve fought the best around the world, conquered America and for me to give the British fans this fight I am coming levels down. People want to see me punch him in the face and that’s what they’ll see.’
The Sheffield fighter responded: ‘He’s living in coocoo land. He’s getting knocked clean out, he needs to go back to being a celebrity. I am going to knock you spark out.
‘I’m going to look over you and say “I told you Amir, I told you I’d knock you spark out”. I’m going to retire you this fight.’
‘You’re bitter about this celebrity life because what has got me here is my performances,’ Khan snapped back.
‘You better get in that gym and start training, you look well overweight as you are now.’