BROOK: NOW I WANT KHAN SUPERFIGHT
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN reckons only radical change can help the UK keep pace with the conveyor belt of snooker talent from China.
The Rocket insists many of the 128 professionals are not good enough – and are learning nothing from regular drubbings at the hands of the big boys. Five-time world champion O’sullivan says youngsters would benefit from a return to a tougher schooling in the amateur ranks.
That would require the sort of funding being poured into Chinese snooker – and O’sullivan wants a ‘second division’ with clear promotion and relegation.
O’sullivan (above) said: “A lot of the players you see on the tour are not actually good enough to be on the tour yet. They should be on a separate tour, fighting among themselves, getting results, learning how to play snooker. But they are coming into these tournaments as a lower-ranked player, getting drawn against a John Higgins or a Shaun Murphy, getting smashed 4-0, and not really taking anything from it.
“China is doing it the right way with their academies and they are backing their youngsters.
“I would like to see snooker doing much more for the amateur game, the grass roots, the kids. Let’s get snooker clubs busy again putting on tournaments.” IRISH BOXING
Brook returned in style from his crushing defeats to Gennady Golovkin and Errol Spence Jnr, to stop Sergey Rabchenko inside two rounds, on his debut at super-welterweight.
The former IBF welterweight king has wanted Khan for years, and feels he will finally face him in 2018, now they are both promoted by Eddie Hearn.
Khan has his first fight under Hearn on April 21 in Liverpool, and Brook said: “If I had the choice between fighting Khan or fighting for a world title, it’d be Khan.
“I think everybody wants to see that fight. We’re both promoted by Eddie, so why can’t we make it happen now?
“We need to sit down, talk about weight, and make the fight.”
Hearn says Brook will fight again in June, before a possible showdown with Khan (below) in the autumn.
“Of course, Amir Khan-kell Brook is the fight we have wanted for three or four years,” said the Matchroom chief.
“He fights on April
21 in Liverpool.
Kell has passed his test and now
Amir Khan has got to pass his test on April 21.
“Kell will be ringside for that. Kell wants to fight in June. That’s when he will next fight and then, later in 2018, everybody wants to see Amir Khan v Kell Brook.”
Brook admitted he was nervous before facing Rabchenko, at Sheffield’s FLYDSA Arena in front of his home fans, because he knew his career was on the line.
But the 31-year-old looked spectacular as he displayed great timing and power to dispatch Rabchenko quickly.
He floored the Belarusian with a right hook to the temple, prompting referee Steve Gray to step in and end the contest.
Brook, who improves to 37-2-0, also wants to become a two-weight world champion at 154lbs in 2018.
“I’m putting everyone on notice,” he said. “I’m ‘The Terminator’ and I’ll be back. I will be world champion again.
“I was in a dark place at Christmas time. To see all these people turn out – my life could not be any better now. I’ve not hurt my hand or anything, so I’ll get back in the gym and get ready for June.”