Khan vs Brook LIVE: Latest updates and reaction to fight tonight
The British rivals finally clash in a grudge match that is more than a decade in the making
There has been a lot of talking and more than a decade of waiting, but finally Amir Khan and Kell Brook will settle their rivalry in the ring this evening as the British pair go head-to-head in a main-event bout at the AO Arena in Manchester.
The former champions have known each other since their teenage days, even before Khan announced himself to the world as Team GB’s youngest ever boxing medalist at the 2004 Olympics. The Bolton-born fighter and rival Brook, representing Sheffield, both went on to win world titles, with Khan also competing in major fights in the United States. Despite the now-35-year-olds’ strong dislike for one another and a long-standing demand from fans for the fighters to settle their differences between the ropes, a bout has eluded the competitors and their followers until now.
Tonight, Khan and Brook face off in a catchweight bout at 149lbs, with the opponents having traded harsh words this week at a fiery press conference and heated weigh-in. “I’m worried about a few things. I’m worried about Kell’s health after the beating I’m gonna be giving him,” Khan said on Thursday. Brook retorted: “He’s definitely gonna sleep Saturday night when I smash him in. He’s going on his face or his back, one of the two.” On the undercard, heavyweight Frazer Clarke makes his professional debut following his medal-winning venture for Team GB at last summer’s Tokyo Olympics, and Natasha Jonas makes her third attempt at becoming a world champion.
Follow live updates and all the latest results from Khan vs Brook and the entire undercard, below.
Kell Brook explains why he changed gloves in ring moments before Amir Khan fight
Kell Brook has opened up on why he was forced to change his gloves in the ring before his stoppage win over Amir Khan.
Brook put on a vicious display to punish Khan over six rounds before the referee stepped in to save the Bolton fighter.
The bitter rivalry has been simmering for more than a decade and took one final twist before the first bell when Brook was seen changing his gloves inside the Manchester ring.
Brook has revealed how Khan’s team made a threat to him over his purse for the fight if he refused to swap out his gloves, while also making claims of dirty tactics to unsettle him in the final days and hours before the fight.
Kell Brook explains why he changed gloves in ring moments before Amir Khan fight
The Sheffield fighter claimed bragging rights over the former Olympic medalist in an engrossing six-round fight
Chris Eubank Jr calls out Kell Brook
“Dominance from round one to the finish. He still has the spice.
“I want to see how spicy he can get with me.
“I’m not Amir Khan. It’s already what it is, the next big grudge match. We have history.
“He’s the reason I didn’t fight Golovkin those years ago. I’m still looking to get that fight, but that was my fight. I’ve never forgiven him.
“I know now that it is a challenge. He fought Golovkin at 160, he complained about coming down.
“I guarantee he walks around heavier than me. We can make that fight happen. Who else can he go to? There’s nobody else for him.”
Amir Khan reacts to Kell Brook loss
Khan: “I’m very upset, I did all the training we needed to do.
“Couldn’t get it going, falling a bit short. Kell put on a great performance.
“He was the best man tonight. Just couldn’t get going, catching him with some good shots, falling a bit short.
“Was missing quite a lot. Kell was on his A game, a lot of respect to him.
“A big thank you to the fans, 90 percent were for me. I want to apologise as it didn’t go our way.
“40 fights, a lot of fights, two world titles, fighting in America. I’ll sit down with the family. I think it’s towards the end of my career.
“The love for the sport isn’t like it was. I used to have that excitement and that push. I felt quite flat.
“A sign I maybe should be calling it a day. Kell looked ready. It’s hard to beat a guy that just wants to win. We’ll see where we go from here.”
Kell Brook reacts to win over Kell Brook
“I can live at peace with my career,” Brook says.
“I’ll see if I can carry on. We’ll have to wait and see. I’ll listen to my loved ones.
“I’m back baby!”
Ben Shalom reacts to Khan vs Brook
“I always believed in this fight but never believed it could be that good.
“Fair play to Amir Khan, he didn’t have to take this fight. Kell has got options now.”
Kell Brook reacts to win over Kell Brook
"I told you, they finally got to see it, it was a matter of time before I got him out of there. What a turnout. They're the fights I wanted to be part of growing up. I'm back on top now. I took Khan out just like I said I would.
“I put a lot of pressure on myself. It’s a boxing fight, I believed it, I was a better fighter than him. H had the promotion.
“I’ve always known that. The fans saw a mega fight.
“The timing was still there. We did all the demands. I had to put different gloves on in the ring. He said he wasn’t happy with my gloves.
“They said they wouldn’t pay me unless I put those gloves on. I did all I had to do and I still took him apart. They did it all week, they pushed and poked at me, trying to get in my head.
“I even had somebody knocking on my door at 3am to disrupt my sleep.
“I’ve always had respect for him, but when I don’t get it back, it’s hard to like somebody back. For taking those shots and staying in there, it came naturally from me. He took some good shots, he’s a nice guy, we said we can get a coffee together after.
“I can walk away, Eubank, we can fight Eubank, I don’t like him, if the millions are right, I’ll fight. I have three beautiful daughters who want that money off me. I’m an iron fighter.”
Khan vs Brook: Fighters share moment of respect in ring after settling rivalry
Khan vs Brook
Khan must box or he won’t survive.
Khan is hurt, Brook laying it on in the sixth, wow!
A vicious Brook here, this is ominous, Khan is badly hurt and the referee stops it, Brook wins!
Khan vs Brook: Round 5
Excellent timing from Brook in the last.
Khan still on the outside, then sends a whipping left past Brook’s ear.
Brook lands with the jab. Khan is badly hurt again!
Brook with some thudding shots, slashing hooks but Khan takes them well. What a chin he’s shown tonight.
Khan side-stepping but nothing is coming back, Brook stalking him, impressive attack this.
A grin from Brook, he’s looking to touch gloves at the end of the round with Khan, but he doesn’t notice him.
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