Saturday 23 January 2016 07:14, UK
Amir Khan is pricing himself out of a world title clash with domestic rival Kell Brook, claims Eddie Hearn.
On Friday, Khan took to Twitter to suggest Brook had demanded a 50-50 cut for their proposed bout and suggested the IBF world welterweight champion should "wake up, smell the coffee and be realistic".
However Hearn, Brook's promoter, has rubbished Khan's claim and insists the former two-time world champion is attempting to avoid a clash with Brook.
"I had a meeting on Monday with Amir Khan's lawyer and, firstly, when you are dealing with Amir Khan you are dealing with about three or four different parties and it is very confusing," Hearn told Sky Sports News HQ.
"On Monday, I was told you've got to be nice and don't talk about these negotiations, they are confidential. I was just sitting at my desk half-an-hour ago and I saw them all unearth on Twitter, so I felt I had to come out and say my piece because the situation is, he is trying to price himself out of the fight because he doesn't want the fight.
"I feel the British public and fight fans need to know the truth that we are doing all that we can. Kell Brook is doing everything he can to make the fight that the British public want."
Brook, who will defend his IBF title against mandatory challenger Kevin Bizier at Sheffield Arena on March 26, has been keen to secure a domestic dust-up with Khan for the summer and hit back at his rival following his outburst on Twitter.
"There you have it Amir Khan - put up or shut up. No more talk, June 4 Wembley Stadium for the world title. I will destroy you," Brook said via his official Twitter account.
Hearn admits negotiations between the camps, though complicated, had been encouraging up until Monday and revealed he offered Khan in excess of £7m to face Brook this summer.
"It has been very positive the last few weeks because we've been talking and when there's dialogue, it's always good. But, like I said, when we had that meeting on Monday, I was left gobsmacked by their demands," he said.
"It is effectively bigger than an 80-20 split. We are talking about a voluntary defence of a world title by a world champion Kell Brook to Amir Khan.
"I appreciate Khan is probably a bigger name than Kell Brook, but Kell Brook is world champion and he needs some kind of parity, but more importantly he needs respect. That's why we are talking about a 60-40 split, it's a great deal for Amir Khan."
Khan is currently the mandatory challenger for the winner of this Saturday's WBC welterweight title bout between Danny Garcia and Robert Guerrero.
But Garcia's father and trainer - Angel Garcia - has insisted his son has no desire to face Khan following his fourth-round stoppage of the Brit in July 2012.
Hearn has also insisted a rematch with Garcia would make no financial sense for Khan, as he stands to make more money for facing Brook.
He added: "About a year and a half ago I made Amir Khan an offer of $5m to fight Kell Brook, this is more like $10m and in fact it is probably more.
The fight with Danny Garcia will not even generate him $5m and there is absolutely no reason for him not to fight Kell Brook, unless you don't want the fight.
"The fight with Danny Garcia will not even generate him $5m and there is absolutely no reason for him not to fight Kell Brook, unless you don't want the fight.
"So, I guess we are going to find out, he's under pressure because this is a fight like Frampton v Quigg and we had the same problems. But virtually everyone eventually says this is the right fight, the right deal and let's get it done. We are in exactly the same position with Brook and Khan."
A spokesman for Amir Khan's management team told Sky Sports News HQ they are now pursuing other options and declined to comment any further.
