Prior to the confirmation of the mega-fight happening on May 2 between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., boxer Amir Khan was in talks to face off against the Filipino boxer. However, now that two of the biggest names are no longer available, who will become Khan's next fight?
Per ESPN's Dan Rafael, Khan is now in talks with fellow British boxer Kell Brook and a fight date may happen by June of this year. Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn confirms that dialogues are taking place, "Just some friendly, initial talks." Hearn then adds that a fight could happen before the second half of the year. "They are confident the fight will happen this year. I am pushing for it early June."
Now this all-British title fight may not generate as massive a following as Pacquiao and Mayweather's match but it's not going to be slighted either.
However, while the fight is probably one that's good to go, it will need to pass one more hurdle before anything is finalized, ESPN noted that "For a Brook-Khan fight to become a reality that quickly, Brook will have to make sure he takes care of business when he makes his first title defense, a mandatory against Jo Jo Dan, on March 28 at Motorpoint Arena in Brook's hometown of Sheffield, England."
Mail Online reported earlier that Brook has been pursuing a fight with Khan even before the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight was confirmed. Talking to Sportsmail (via Mail Online) Hearn said, "He [Khan] knows where we are. He has so much to lose in fighting Kell but is adamant he would win with ease. If he truly believes that then this is the fight that would make him more money than any other.
"I offered Khan $5m to take the fight before Kell won a world title. With a world title involved, the pot of money for this fight is even bigger. If Khan truly thinks he could beat Kell, then he should step up," he added confidently.
Back in January, Khan admitted to ESPN that his primary option, after Pacquiao and Mayweather that is, would be Kell Brook.
"It's a big fight even if it isn't as big as me against Manny or Floyd," Khan said. "Kell Brook is very powerful, very strong. He's kind of slick the way he fights. He puts his punches together quite well. Plus, it would be a massive U.K. fight. I think we could sell out Wembley. A fight between us has been talked about for a long time. It would bring a lot of money for him to fight me. But he's my third choice."
With both fighters geared for a fight, it now boils down to negotiations.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao are set to fight on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Stay tuned for more.
