AMIR KHAN is adamant that when it comes to his long-standing rivalry with Kell Brook, the Sheffield man will always be the B-side. “One hundred per cent,” Khan said. “I’m still getting paid in the big money fights, I’m not chasing Kell Brook, I just want him to have a good performance and respect me.
“I was selling the fight on my own back and it’s too much pressure selling the fight on your own. Let’s hope Kell comes back with a good win and we’ll take it from there.”
Instead of taking a potential fight with Brook, Khan will travel to America on April 20 to challenge WBO welterweight world champion Terence Crawford. “I am in a division and position where I am a big name, globally, I can almost get any big name to fight me. Brook was close, very close, one night it was Brook and the next morning it was Crawford. Before that people were saying I had nowhere to go and now I have Crawford,” Amir said. “People will say I have no chance and that is perfect for me because I love being the underdog… Being the underdog takes all the pressure off of me and I can prove I am the best.”
“I’m not going there as an opponent; I’m the best fighter he’s been in the ring with. Other fighters like Jeff Horn took him nine rounds and I’m a better fighter than all the fighters he’s faced; I’d beat all the fighters he’s faced,” he added. “He’s moving up in levels and so am I, he’s a big test for me and someone at my own weight division where I’m more comfortable.
“My boxing skills are probably the best boxing skills he’s been in the ring with. Jose Benavidez used to be a sparring partner of mine and I know what I used to do to him.”
“Maybe he’s going to go into this fight not training hard and thinking he’s going to win easily and we’ll do a job on him. I’d rather him think I’m not in the top 10 because we will shock him,” Khan continued. “There have been times he has taken fights lightly and been hurt in fights… He’s been hurt and at the end of the day he’s human.”
“This is a harder fight [than Brook], I was getting a little bit more money for fighting Brook but this is a harder fight with a bit less money. It shows what sort of fighter I am, this is about my legacy and people will remember this when I am finished,” he concluded. “Beating Crawford will leave behind a great legacy. The Brook fight will always be there. Even if things go bad in this fight, the Brook fight will still be there. I am not saying I do not want the Brook fight, I would love it, but this fight shines more because he has the title and is a pound-for-pound star so this is where I belong.
“This is my final chapter so maybe one or two more fights, probably two more fights then call it a day.”
