Khan: I’m in shape of my life for grudge bout

Amir Khan believes he is in the shape of his life ahead of his long-awaited bout against British rival Kell Brook following help from an unlikely source in recent months.

In preparation for the 149lb catchweight contest in Manchester on Saturday, Khan trained alongside Terence Crawford after linking up with the WBO welterweight champion’s coach Brian ‘Bomac’ Mcintyre in the Colorado mountains.

Eyebrows were initially raised given Crawford defeated Khan in a largely one-sided contest in April 2019, although the Nebraskan southpaw was similarly dominant in dispatching Brook inside four rounds the following year.

Bolton-born Khan insisted no stone has been left unturned, telling a cheering crowd at the Trafford Centre in Manchester after his open workout that he was ready for Brook, who received jeers from those watching on.

“I’m ready, honestly,” Khan said. “It’s the hardest I’ve ever trained, I’ve

never been this fit, this strong and I can’t wait to show everyone who the boss is. I’ll win this fight and in good style, Kell’s not got a chance.

“Every fight you have to be confident and I’m very confident because training camp has not been easy, being away from my family, my friends, my kids, that’s what’s given me the push and motivated me to train very hard. Having Terence Crawford here is a massive motivation for me. He’s the pound-forpound best fighter in the world, he’s fought me and Kell and the advice he has been giving me in training camp has been brilliant.

“There was never a day I had easy. I’ll do you all proud, it’s the best Amir Khan that’s going to come on Saturday.”

Khan and Brook, both 35, have been at loggerheads for around a decade, but a fight when they were at their respective peaks failed to materialise, to the frustration of boxing fans in this country.

But tickets for this weekend’s headliner at the AO Arena selling out in just 10 minutes shows there remains an appetite to discover who will claim the bragging rights, even if there is a suspicion both fighters have faded.

“We don’t like each other,” Khan said on Sky Sports. “We have not liked each other for 10 years. I know I will have my hands full.”

Amir Khan is ready for Kell Brook.