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.
Khan vs Brook undercard: Natasha Jonas rocks Chris Namus
Natasha Jonas rocks Chris Namus in the first and drops her hard.
Timed a lovely left and then a thudding right, Namus is down hard.
The bell saves her!
Khan vs Brook undercard: Hannah Rankin on Natasha Jonas’ chances over Chris Namus
Hannah Rankin: “It’s a massive jump for her, I’m surprised when she said she’d go up to super-welterweight.
“She has fantastic skills, she’ll need them to offset the weight difference.
“I spent two weeks training in Kiev with Namus, it’s a tough test. I think she’ll bring it.”
Khan vs Brook: Chris Eubank Jr wants Kell Brook fight
Eubank Jr: "Feeling great, hand's on the mend. I fought here a few times before. It's an awesome place, a fight city.
“This is a proper 50-50 fight. This is an actual 50-50 fight. I want Amir to win, me and Kell have beef. We have history.
“He said he wants to kick my head in. I'd like to see Amir do the job. I want to fight Kell after this. So I want him to win as if he loses that fight is dead in the water.”
Khan vs Brook: Chris Eubank Jr makes prediction
Eubank Jr: "I think it will come down to who gets caught first. They're both similar stages of their careers, they've had big losses, tough fights.
“Who wants it more and who gets caught first? I'm leaning towards Kell as he's a bit bigger. But Amir has that speed, the footwork. To me, Amir won the war of the words. He came out on top."
Khan vs Brook undercard: Ben Shalom reacts to Frazer Clarke win
Shalom: "He did what he had to do, what we saw tonight, a fan favourite, the reaction he got, says it all. He's got big nights ahead of him."
Khan vs Brook undercard: Frazer Clarke wins on debut
Frazer Clarke reacts to victory on pro debut
Clarke: “I’m under no illusions. He was a soft touch.
“The dreaded Covid struck, my original opponent couldn’t be here.
“My job was to be here and do what I do best.
“I tried to slow it down a bit. There wasn’t much coming back. There’s a long way, I’m not quite there physically.
“That was a smidgen of what I’m about, it’s the start of the journey.
“I’ve got loads to load, I want to continue learning.
“I had to pick a ring walk track, a lot of thought went into that. Great to be here, so much love walking around.”
Khan vs Brook undercard result: Frazer TKO1 Darnell
Frazer predictably too good and too strong for Darnell, who was drafted in on short notice.
Punishing shots, you could hear them thud off Darnell’s head.
A good body shot in the first 30 seconds or so. Then the big shots upstairs.
The beginning of the journey, how far will Big Fraze go?
Khan vs Brook undercard: Frazer vs Darnell
Frazer is unloading here, some brutal shots.
That is a sickening beat down, Darnell had no right to be in there with the Olympic medalist.
The towel comes in. Too much punishment as blood dripped down his face.
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