Amir Khan and Kell Brook ’embrace will mean nothing’ as lonely Sunday awaits bitter rivals

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“They may instinctively hug after the fight but don’t be fooled by that,” Johnny Nelson says with a wry smile. “That’s the emotion, when you are obsessed with an opponent, you think about him every day of the week, more than your wife and kids. This is real, this is real with these boys.”

Thursday’s foul-mouthed, immoderate, knife-edge press conference, in which both fighters were warned over the use of homophobic and racist language, provided timely clarification of the simmering bad blood and genuine hatred that threatens to ignite this high-stakes chess match into a nuclear war.

Kell Brook, 39-3, has sounded the alarm, warning and promising fans to expect fireworks from the opening bell as he bids to settle old scores: “It’s going to be like a big scrap in a telephone booth.”

In the other corner, the ‘A-SIDE’ Amir Khan has declared his concern for his rival’s health, labelling Brook an obsessive “fanboy”. The pair rarely see eye-to-eye but both are in agreement that this long-awaited grudge match won’t go the distance.

Former unified light-welterweight world champion Khan remains insistent that the bitterness on Brook’s behalf is simply born from jealousy after his career stretched to famous American nights under the lights at Madison Square Garden and the MGM Grand, before a stint as a reality TV star in the Australian jungle for ‘I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’

Special K, former IBF welterweight champion of the world, strongly refutes those allegations, claiming he simply craves the respect Khan has deprived him of throughout the entirety of their toxic, 17-year rivalry.

Former cruiserweight world champion Nelson, who has built personal relationships with both fighters during his time working for Sky Sports, is under no illusions that the distaste and ill-feeling is bona fide.

“I know personally these guys – this is for real,” Nelson, who refereed The Gloves are Off, told Express Sport. “When fighters are trying to fake it, we can tell. This is about something a lot more deep-rooted than just wanting to fight someone, there’s a lot on the line for these guys.

“They both know if they lose – everything they’ve achieved in their careers is going to be blanked out.

“All they’re going to talk about, not the librarians but the masses, is about is the winner and the loser of this fight, those are the people you want to win for. The only case where that doesn’t happen is when a boxing historian goes back and says ‘he did this, this and this’.”

For the loser, Sunday morning could be a really lonely, dark place, and while there’s an appreciation this fight is well past its sell-by date, Nelson believes it’s the perfect way for both to sign off – regardless of the final result.

“I do actually, I do,” Nelson replied, when quizzed on whether this was a swan-song for both Khan and Brook.

“The reason I say that is because you’ve got two fighters with a lot of pride that both know they’re not world-beaters, they’re not going to get a shot at the world title but they’re still king of their pool, not the world pool.

“As an ex-fighter myself, would I want to have carried on boxing after I got a beating by a rival? No I wouldn’t, because where is my ambition? It would show I’m just in it for the money.

“Pride also takes place, therefore the loser is just a stepping stone for the young bucks coming through, the likes of Conor Benn, who has already been gunning for Khan.

“I think both of these fighters have got too much pride to let that be the case. They will know the time feels right.”

There are plenty of fascinating, intriguing questions that need answering on Saturday night when the fighters step through the ropes; can a seasoned Khan maintain his electric hand-speed beyond the opening rounds? Who will benefit from the physical deterioration of both fighters? Furthermore, is Brook’s punch resistance capable of withstanding the heat following a concerning stoppage last time out against WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford?

Bud’s trainer, Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre, who became embroiled in a war of words with Brook’s cornerman Dominic Ingle at the official fight press conference, has formed an unlikely link up with Khan for the 35-year-old’s last hurrah.

Together, they’re plotting the downfall of the bookies’ favourite Brook, while The Special One is fighting his own personal battle not to get drawn into a fire-fight after recently watching an irate, overly-pumped Liam Williams crumble against rival Chris Eubank Jr in Cardiff.

Nelson, who like Brook also hails from Sheffield, knows his fellow Yorkshireman must cast all emotions to one side in order to execute Ingle’s game plan and arguably the win of his career, one that could just oust his sensational 2014 points triumph over Shawn Porter in Carson, California.

“Without a doubt [Brook can’t get drawn into a war], the whole point in saying things to your opponent and trying to get under their skin is to get them off their game plan,” he said.

“If their fighter is not thinking and listening to their cornerman and sticking to the plan, then what happens, you fight on emotion.

“That’s when you’ll burn out, you can’t implement the game plan. You can’t muster that energy you’ve stored to slow drip yourself as the fight goes on.

“It’s like you’re drowning, I know what I want to do but I can’t do it, I’m stuck. Sticking to the game plan is everything.”

With significant, legacy-defining bragging rights up for grabs, this is simply an unmissable, heavyweight contest at a 149lb catchweight. It will catch fire. Do not miss it…

Watch the BOXXER grudge match between Amir Khan and Kell Brook exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office on Saturday from 6pm via www.skysports.com/boxoffice

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