KELL MUST WEIGHT FOR KING KHAN
Amir tells Brook he’ll have to come down to welterweight if he wants megafight
AMIR KHAN has told Kell Brook he must come back down to welterweight to fight him.
Brook was at Liverpool’s Echo Arena to witness Khan’s 39-second demolition of the hapless Phil Lo Greco on his comeback and confronted his bitter rival afterwards.
Khan is keen to secure an advantage over Brook, who has stepped up to superwelterweight since losing his IBF welterweight title last year, and says he must come back down to 147lb.
Although Khan fought Lo Greco at a catchweight of 150lb, he only wants to campaign at welterweight and Brook could struggle to shrink back down to 147.
“Let’s see if we can make the fight,” said Khan.
“Let’s see if he can make the weight because 150 was the weight I did for this fight, but I really wanted it for 147.
“Hundred per cent, it has to be at 147 if it’s going to happen. I want to win a world title at this weight.
“There are big names in this division, so definitely, if Kell wants it, let’s do it at 147.”
Brook can see the trap Khan is setting for him and claims their clash should also be at a catchweight.
“He’s been out for two years,” Lo Greco said. “He struggled to make welterweight so why not make it a catchweight?”
Khan is confident of beating Brook after recording the quickest win of his 13-year professional career.
“Kell is robotic,” Khan said dismissively. “I don’t think he can cope with my speed and movement.”
Ironically, Khan’s devastating display could easily push their long-awaited showdown further into the future rather than bring it closer.
Eddie Hearn now promotes both fighters and feels that clash will continue to grow if both men keep winning.
“It’s now a Wembley Stadium fight,” said the Matchroom MD. “Before tonight, it could have been at Manchester Arena or the Principality, but now it’s Wembley, it’s 90,000 people.
“I love that fight and that fight has to happen.
“But there are some massive fights out there for the both of them, world title fights.
“I have to look at all the different scenarios.”
Khan wants four-weight world champion Adrien Broner next, and the American drew with Jessie Vargas in the early hours of yesterday.
“I’d like Broner,” he said. “Broner is a big name. That would be a great fight if we could bring him to the UK. I believe that could be a fight at 147 and maybe a title fight.”
Khan, 31, was back to his devastating best from the start of his career as he destroyed Canada’s Lo Greco.
He floored the 33-year-old initially with a left, right-hook combination and then knocked him into the ropes under a flurry of punches before referee Victor Loughlin waved it off.
The frustration, anger and pain of the last two years were exorcised in a massive cathartic yell from Khan as he bounded around the ring.
“Khan is back,” he roared. He most certainly is.