Mayor of London Sadiq Khan wants the English capital to stage the world’s biggest boxing events – starting with a domestic clash between Amir Khan and Kell Brook at Wembley Stadium.
The city has played host to several huge events in recent years, including Carl Froch’s rematch with George Groves at Wembley and the various Anthony Joshua shows which have taken place at the O2 Arena.
In September, middleweight superstar Gennady Golovkin fought Kell Brook at the O2 and Khan – a big boxing fan himself – wants to see more crossover events taking place in London.
โLondon was the perfect host for the unmissable fight between the undisputed pound for pound king in Gennady Golovkin and our very own Kell Brook,” Khan said while speaking at the Boxing Writersโ Club dinner.
“Both for our city, and the thousands of boxing fans in London, staging the best fights is something we could all get used to.
โI want to see the biggest sporting and cultural events staged here in London because we not only have world-class venues to stage top-class boxing, but we also have the globeโs best fight fans.”
A fight between Bolton’s Khan and Sheffield’s Brook is a stalwart on British fight fans’ wish lists, though the pair have not yet been able to agree terms.
With Brook having jumped to 160lbs to fight Golovkin, a move back to welter – where Khan operates – could be a struggle, especially given his troubles of boiling down to 147 in the past.
However Khan fought Canelo Alvarez at a 155lb catchweight in May, and a similar arrangement could be made for a fight with Brook, with both expected to return to action in early 2017.
โLondon is open to the best talent in the world and that is why I am keen to see another super-fight in the capital and what better one to start with than arch rivals Amir Khan and Kell Brook both in the ring at Wembley Stadium?,” Sadiq Khan queried.
“London is neutral territory and I think it is a contest the British public and London fight fans would love to see.”