Kell Brook's British battle with Amir Khan could still be a year away, says Barry Hearn
Saturday 19 May 2018 14:51, UK
Kell Brook's British battle with Amir Khan might still be a year away as they could firstly pursue world titles in different weight divisions, says Matchroom chairman Barry Hearn.
Khan this year joined Brook in Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing stable, raising hopes that an elusive fight could finally be agreed, but both men also hold ambitions of becoming world champions again.
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Brook has already received a verbal challenge from Jarrett Hurd, who holds WBA 'super' and IBF super-welterweight titles, after making his 154lbs debut, while Khan is expected to pursue a big name bout at welterweight.
"I'd love to see the fight and again it's a financial decision by both of them," Barry Hearn told Sky Sports.
"They're both top, top fighters in their own division. There are an enormous amount of opportunities opening up for Kell Brook in the super-welterweight division, and equally for Amir Khan after his spectacular win.
"They have choices. The choice is - financially that they should fight each other at some catchweight compromise, because it's a huge fight for the British public, sells out a stadium, is a massive pay-per-view.
"The choice for them is - do they go and pursue their own career at their own respective weights on the understanding that fight can still happen at some time in the future.
"Unfortunately in boxing, a defeat for either devalues that fight."
Eddie Hearn had hoped to stage Brook-Khan at the end of the year, but his father Barry believes the weight limit is still a stumbling block in negotiations.
I get the gut feeling that will come after they've had their respective world title challenges in their respective weight divisions first.
"You have a Mayweather-Pacquiao situation where the fight could have happened already, should happen really quite soon, and may not happen for another 12 months," said Barry Hearn.
"I think egos, personality, and the weight differential, because Khan is saying 'I want to box at 147', Brook is saying 'I'll make 147'. I don't think we should let him [Brook]. I don't think he's the real ticket at 147.
"At 154, we would argue, don't take it, to Amir, because he's not a 154 fighter. Whether there's a compromise at something like 150, and we can do the fight.
"I get the gut feeling that it will come after they've had their respective world title challenges in their respective weight divisions first."
Watch Adonis Stevenson vs Badou Jack, in Toronto, in the early hours of Sunday, May 19, from 2.30am, live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action.
