The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Brook brands Khan a ‘con’
Fighter vents frustration and accuses rival of turning his back on fans
Kell Brook has launched a verbal attack on Amir Khan as he prepares for Saturday’s super-welterweight fight against Australian Michael Zerafa.
Yorkshireman Brook is frustrated at what he sees as Khan’s reluctance for a showdown between them to take place.
And he vented his feelings during a press conference in Sheffield ahead of a final eliminator for the WBA superwelterweight world title this weekend. Instead of facing Brook, Khan has now been linked to taking on Terence Crawford – much to Brook’s annoyance.
“I’m doing everything I can for the fans. He has turned his back on them. Everyone knows it’s him that is running off,” Brook said.
“Amir Khan is a con man, they should call him Amir ‘con’. This is his last big fight under Matchroom, and I thought it was nailed on. He shook my hand and looked me dead in the eye and said we would fight next. What can I do? bent over backwards.
“I want any elite fighter. I’ve got that buzz again. I want the top guys.
“In training, we are getting all the hard work done and having a good crack in between. Camp could not have gone any better. I’m raring to go.
“I am not interested in what Zerafa’s going to do, I am going to be 100%.
“No man can deal with me on Saturday night. I’m very explosive and looking to put on a serious performance.” I’ve
Zerafa, though, has only lost twice during his professional career, and he is ready to take his opportunity against Brook at the Sheffield Arena.
“Brook has done a lot of great things for the sport,” Zerafa said. “We know it’s a hard task, but we are prepared. This is a world title for me.
“Brook is just a man with two arms, two legs, a head and he bleeds red.
“It’s going to be fireworks. We’ve seen flaws in Kell, and if there are too many holes in a ship, it sinks. No stone has been left unturned.”
Light-heavyweight fighter Adonis Stevenson was confirmed to have suffered a severe traumatic brain injury after being knocked out by Ukrainian Oleksandr Gvozdyk in Quebec City last weekend. A statement from the hospital said the 41-yearold American has had surgery but remains in intensive care. It went on to state it is too early to comment on his long-term health.
Before being stopped in the 11th round against Gvozdyk, Stevenson was boxing’s oldest and longestreigning world champion. It was his 10th defence of the WBC light-heavyweight title since he defeated fellow American Chad Dawson to win it in 2013. chuffed to beat him. I am pleased with how I am playing. I am comfortable out there and I felt calm all the way through.”
There was joy too for world number 59 Martin O’Donnell, whose 6-4 win over 2005 and 2009 champion Ding landed him a daunting last-eight showdown with Ronnie O’Sullivan.
The pair were locked together at 3-3, but O’Donnell, who had never been past the first round before, took the seventh and eighth frames, the latter with a break of 90, before clinching victory in the 10th.
He said: “The UK Championship is the biggest tournament of the season, my record here has been absolutely appalling. [It’s] definitely the biggest win of my career.”
Asked about today’s impending clash with O’Sullivan, O’Donnell said: “He could beat me 6-0, but I will enjoy it. If I get chances, I will have to take them.”
“It’s definitely the biggest win of my career”