Khan vs Brook: Ring walk time, how to watch, undercard, odds
Amir Khan and Kell Brook are FINALLY set to end their long-term rivalry in a potentially career-defining send-off for both fighters, with the bout now quickly edging closer: Everything to know ahead of the long-awaited match-up
- Amir Khan and Kell Brook will finally go head-to-head on Saturday, February 19
- A match-up has been discussed for numerous years but hadn’t ever materialised
- The pair will fight at a maximum of 149lb, two lbs above the welterweight limit
- Also on the card is Natasha Jonas, who fights for a world title for the third time
- READ: From mountain runs to four-minute rounds, how Khan has got in shape
After years of back and forth outside of the ring, Amir Khan and Kell Brook will finally settle their differences in the squared circle in a mouthwatering encounter later this month.
An eagerly-anticipated match-up between the domestic duo has been on the cards for a number of years but has never previously come to fruition as both fighters went on their respective endeavors for glory.
Many believed the British rivals would never share the ring, and though both fighters are undoubtedly in the twilight periods of their careers, there is still demand in abundance, with tickets selling out in just 10 minutes.
Khan, who has been out of the ring over two years, last recorded a notable win back in 2018 when he defeated Samuel Vargas on points. Since then he has been stopped by Terence Crawford in 2019 and beaten Billy Dib in a farcical spectacle later in the year.
As for Brook, the Sheffield fighter has been out of action since his own defeat to Crawford in November 2020. He’d previously notched wins over Mark DeLuca, Michael Zerafa and Sergey Rabchenko, after falling short against Gennady Golovkin and Errol Spence Jr.
Aside from the enticing match-up, there will also be action in abundance on the undercard, with the likes of Natasha Jonas, Frazer Clarke and Viddal Riley on show.
With the long-awaited spectacle swiftly approaching, Sportsmail takes you through everything you need to know.
Amir Khan (left) and Kell Brook (right) will finally go head-to-head on Saturday, February 19
The clash between Khan and Brook is scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 19 at the Manchester Arena.
The pair will have a weight limit of 149lbs, which is 2lbs above the welterweight limit. Promoter Ben Shalom in December confirmed that both fighters will be fined a ‘six-figure’ fee for every pound they weigh above the agreed limit.
Natasha Jonas will also be fighting for a world title on the card
The pair are expected to walk to the ring at around 10pm for those in the UK, though that will of course depend on results beforehand.
As stated, there is also plenty of action on the undercard. Jonas will attempt to win a world title for the third time, jumping up two weight classes to do so,
Meanwhile, Olympian Frazer Clarke will also be making his professional debut, brothers Hassan and Adam Azim will both feature and the undefeated Manchester fighter Bradley Rea is also on the card.
How to watch the fight
The 12-round contest will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Sky have recently confirmed the event, which will get underway at 6pm, will cost £19.95 for the in the UK and €24.95 for Republic of Ireland customers.
Two repeat showings will then be shown at 8am and 3pm on Sunday.
Once purchased, the fight can be streamed online HERE, while the Sky Sports Box Office app will also work via Now, as well as on IOS or Android devices.
Sportsmail will also be covering the fight live, so you can keep up-to-date with us.
Khan vs Brook: The key stats
Amir Khan
Age: 35
Height: 5ft 8.5in
Reach: 71in
Stance: Orthodox
Record: 34W, 5L, 0D
Knockouts: 21
Rounds: 232
Debut: 2005
Kell Brook
Age: 35
Height: 5ft 9in
Reach: 69in
Stance: Orthodox
Record: 39W, 3L, 0D
Knockouts: 27
Rounds: 220
Debut: 2004
Brook was stopped in the fourth round by Terrence Crawford in his most recent outing
Khan also lost out against the pound-for-pound contender in his most recent meaningful bout
Fight card in full
- Amir Khan vs Kell Brook
- Natasha Jonas v Chris Namus – for vacant WBO super-welterweight title
- Charlie Schofield vs Germaine Brown – for BBBofC English super-middleweight title
- Bradley Rea vs Craig McCarthy
- Frazer Clarke vs TBA
- Viddal Riley vs Willbeforce Shihepo
- Adam Azim vs Jordan Ellison
- Hassan Azim vs MJ Hall
- Abdul Khan vs Ricky Starkey
- Ibrahim Nadim vs Taka Bembere
What’s been said?
As you’d expect, plenty of insults have been exchanged in the build-up to the mammoth event.
The pair were separated by security during their face-to-face at the announcement presser in November as tempers flared, though Khan perhaps looked the more composed figure of the two.
‘What I’ve done in the sport, the name I’ve got – you can see how bitter he is,’ Khan told Sky Sports. ‘My celebrity status? That comes because of what I’ve achieved in the sport of boxing. It’s not because of other things.
‘I have put on great performances, won world titles, made a name for myself in America. It all comes from boxing. How can you hate on that? I have capitalised on what I’ve done in boxing. He hates that.
‘He can hate me as much as he wants. Once I beat him, he will hate me even more! Now I know that he hates me, it will only make me train harder.’
Khan added: ‘This is a step down for me. Me going into this fight is going down a couple of levels. There are bigger names, tougher fights. But I had to give this to the British fans. So I’ve had to step down to give him a beating and show the British public who the best is.’
Khan insisted he’s stepping down in class to fight his long-term rival at their November presser
A clearly hyped up Brook insisted the fight against Khan is what he’s wanted for many years
The British rivals were separated by security as tempers flared during their face-to-face
Brook, on the other hand, insisted this is the one fight he has wanted for years, though he admitted it will be a tough pill to swallow for the loser.
‘It’s personal,’ he said. ‘It’s not made up. We dislike each other. I’ve got the grudge match of my career. I haven’t lost anything. I might be 35. But Terence Crawford is 34, so is Shawn Porter, and they just had an epic fight. Crawford is one of the best pound-for-pound.
‘I’ve still got the power, still got the timing, the experience. It will be one of my best performances. It’s about bragging rights. Imagine – whoever loses has to live with it for the rest of their lives. I will put myself through hell in training.
‘I looked into his eyes – he knows that I’m coming. He never wanted this fight but he’s been backed into a corner. I’ve wanted it for years.’
Is this the last time we’ll see both fighters?
Both fighters have admitted the all-British blockbuster could be the last time they enter the ring regardless of the result – though, of course, neither are willing to even speculate the thought of a loss.
For the winner, it feels like an apt time to sail into the sunset, having earned one last career-defining victory and a rather handsome payday. For the loser, it will be a difficult task to get back even close to elite level.
Khan, writing to his 1.4million followers on Instagram, in January gave a clear indication of his plans.
‘I leave it to God to decide which round I knock Kell Brook out,’ he wrote. ‘I am going to win the fight 100 per cent. People ask me what I’m doing after this fight. I’m done, man.’
Both Brook and Khan have admitted the British blockbuster could be their final fight
Speaking later to Sportsmail, though insisting he wants to exit the sport on his own terms, Khan did admit that he will find it difficult to hang up his gloves.
‘It does scare me, it does because boxing is what I do,’ he said. ‘Boxing is everything to me. It keeps me occupied, keeps me focused. If I didn’t have boxing in my life, I would be quite lost.’
Brook, on the other hand, insists he’s revitalised and has ambitions to carry on in the sport, but admitted he’ll call it quits if he loses.
‘I don’t really think about losing,’ Brook told talkSPORT. ‘But if we have to bring that up and, even though I can’t get that in my head that I am going to lose, but I would call it a draw. End of the boxing, [gloves] to be hung up.’
Khan vs Brook: The odds
Both fighters have been out of the ring for a number of months; it’s difficult to predict just what version of each we’ll get on fight night.
However, it’s Brook who is the favourite among the bookies as things stand, with odds of 4/7 to get the victory.
Khan, on the other hand, is down at 11/8 to get the win, while an unlikely draw is at 16/1.
*Odds as per Betfair and correct at the time of publication.
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