5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce - Khan vs Brook: Finally Fighting

Episode Date: February 14, 2022

Amir Khan and Kell Brook, two names that have been put together for years. The former boxing world champions have taken on some of the biggest names in the sport but as yet, have managed to avoid each other. Finally brought together by new boxing promoter, Ben Shalom, they’ve agreed to fight at a catchweight of 149lbs, just above the welterweight limit. Eleanor Roper has been spending time in Bolton and Sheffield, going behind-the-scenes in both camps, ahead of the much anticipated Manchester bout. She hears from both fighters about the highs and lows of their careers and the two-decade long rivalry that will finally be settled on Saturday 19 February.

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you'll get a free 360 degree rotating pocket pivot and a free thumb drive nozzle. Go to pockethose.com slash podcast. That's pockethose.com slash podcast for your two free gifts with purchase. Pockethose.com slash podcast. BBC Sounds, music, radio podcasts. Amir Khan and Kelbrook, two of the biggest names in British boxing. We got told that we'd be, you know, like two seeds in a pot grow, like Branchton, obviously, They've come together at some stage, but it never has happened.

It never did happen. I think he just lived off my name all his career. Kansas gets me a little bit angry. He's a good fighter, but he's not on my level. At the end of the day, he's been a world champion. He's fought the best out there. But I just don't think he has the heart anymore. They've both achieved so much.

But until now, their paths have never crossed. It doesn't need no building. It's a matter of who's got what left. In his heart of hearts, Kahn's always known. It's all right to lose against the big names in America, cross the sea, but to fight, to lose to a domestic fighter like Kelbrook, he'd never be able to live that down.

After years of talk, it's finally happening. It's Bolton versus Sheffield, it's speed versus power as they battle for the north of England and look to prove who still got what it takes. Am is going to start fast. If Kel can sort of withstand the early pressure, I think he'll do okay. That's the key, I think, Cal getting through those early rounds and then Ami's got to stay out of the way really. They're both at the end of the career, but you still want to win.

Is it five, ten years too late? Would you have seen a higher quality performance from both five, ten years ago? Yeah, definitely, but let's forget what could have been and think about what is. Well, the fight got made finally, arguably ten years too late, but still intriguing. I'm Eleanor Roper, and this is Khan versus Brooke, finally fighting. The world knows it his chin's not the strongest part, I know. And I just want to show people that I've always been a better fighter.

When you walk into a gym, people come straight away and look at the posters because there's so much history around the gym. On the left there, you've got the first poster, which is the first fight I had in America against Pauli Malinanagi. And that was in New York at the Madison Square Garden. And then from then on, we went to Vegas for against Canelo. I put a poster up there because Canello is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. And then we've got Morales and Barera fight, which is one of my favorite fights.

I've seen in boxing, so I had to put the post up there. I've got myself against Marcos Maidana, which was the fight of the year in 2011. It's also testament to the longevity of your career. Like, we're looking at the Malinaji fight, 2010. Yeah, can you believe it? I've been going a long time. So, that was what?

We've been 20, 22, and so 12 years ago, oh my God, and that was my first fight in America. And I was like a season professional then. So it just showed how long I've been fighting at the top level. You've been in the game a long time. Very long, very long. I mean, giving my age away now, I feel very old. I'm thinking about it now because when I started,

I was like the youngster in the sport, you know. I started at the age of 19, when a world title of 22. I've been the third youngest in Britain. But then on, you know, I've been, I'm still going strong and I'm now 35. So it's crazy, time flies. Now you've got a big mural of yourself on the wall.

How's that for you? Is that a bit weird? It is weird, honestly. I didn't even want that there. I mean, there's no doubt when you come here whose gym it is. You know who's gym it is. Exactly. You know whose gym it is.

So I'm in Ami Khan Academy. me in Bolton, just outside of the town centre. And we're here where I do all my training. Also, this community centre is for the public. So kids can come and train. I've had this place now for the last 10 years. So you've just arrived from America. Tell us where have you been? When did you arrive home? I was over in Omaha, Nebraska, training over there. Did three weeks over there in Omaha and then went up in the mountains to Colorado Springs, which was a little bit different, 8,000 feet high in altitude. And a lot harder to train. over there because obviously with the air being thin.

So did most of my training camp there, about eight weeks over there. So in total, I was away for over 10 weeks. Everyone that sees me, they don't recognize me because of how much weight I've lost and I've got back in shape again. So it's always nice. Yeah, I must say, when I saw you, that was the first thing I thought, yeah. You probably think I was one of them well overweight as well. I never thought you're overweight, but...

I kind of, I kind of hide it well, to be honest with you, but it's been such a long time since I've been in this position again where I was going to fight again. Amir has been out of the ring for a while. He hasn't fought. since 2019. Ahead of this fight, he decided to team up with the American Terrence Crawford and his coach, a man known as Beaumac. Crawford is the WBO well-to-weight champion.

He's unbeaten in 38 bouts, and two of those wins came over both Amir and his British rival, Kelbrook. And a low blow from Terrence Crawford, and Khan goes back to his own corner here, the blue corner in agony, pointing towards the area south of the belt. It's a low blow from Terrence Cawley. They know me inside out and then seeing that they fought Kelbrook as well, they know Kelbrook inside out.

I thought, you know what, it makes sense for me because they don't know what I need to work on. It's a good fit for this. It's a good fit for me. But it was not only because they beat Kelbrook, but obviously when they fought me, they beat me. And I thought, look, they know what mistakes I was making in that fight so they can improve that.

And that's what I did and that's what I've done, we've been doing. And it's always nice to work with someone, a new face, a new camp and a new environment. And that's what it was. I feel like Beaumac doesn't take any prisoners. Oh my God, he doesn't, trust me. I've watched him in the gym and... She's seen in here today.

Yeah, crazy, you don't care. Every moment you're lapsing in concentration. Focus, focus, it's not over yet. What has the camp been like? Is he a hard taskmaster? Yeah, he is. And obviously, if you want to be the best and if you want to reach the highest level,

you have to be told what to do. And I'm one of them type of guys. I've always been told what to do. How's that been for you at this point in your career? Because you are hugely experienced. You fought the best. but yet you've still got someone it's almost like disregarding all of that

Yeah I mean I don't take it in any disrespect or anything I honestly take it in because when he tells me some instructions I have to go and try it even if I don't feel comfortable doing it I'll still go and try it because I know that they see more than me being on the outside at the same time they're very experienced

My name Brian McIrottor they call me Beaumac from Omaha Nebraska in the United States I knew that we already had beating from one of my previous fighters but I know he was gaming come to fight, so I talked to the team about it, and team was like, let's go.

We know that Terence Crawford, who you're referring to, they already beat Amir Khan. When you kind of came away from that fight, what was it that you thought Amir needed to work on? What did he need to improve on? I just know that he needed to just commit to his boxing style, just more than I've seen in the ring. Are you a better boxer as a result of spending this time in the States

with Terence Crawford and his team? Oh, my God, yeah, definitely. You know, I've stitched with Tarant's farming with Territ. in Crawford this time and I did so well against them and I thought wow like only if I did that in the fight it might have been a difference so you've improved so you have improved you think 100% we're the cons I'm Amir Olympic medal winner and two-time world boxing champion we've been under the media glare I'm surprised that they even knew we were coming I will settle the score good happy for you and bad five millions gone missing I don't know where it's gone welcome to our world

really, and obviously being so young at the age of 17, no one ever expected me to go in the Olympics and win the medals. So I kind of proved everyone wrong there. Probably proved my self wrong. I mean, I was always confident, but I never think I was going to come back as a household name. So I think that has to be my career high because that's what made me. You don't get to this point without overcoming enormous challenges.

Yeah, I wonder what has been your kind of greatest challenge? My greatest challenge has been, you know, losing fights, and then obviously coming back from there. I lost fights and everyone thought I was finished, but I bounced back and I proved everyone wrong. And I think if there's anyone listening to this, who's also a fighter in any sport, even if you're failing life, you come back stronger. Don't ever give up. I want to talk to you about Kellbrook, two names Amir Khan and Kelbrook that have been linked together for a very, very long time. How long have you wanted this fight?

You know, I've wanted it for a very long time, but I know a lot of people feel that I was always avoiding it, but I never was because it just at the time when we both wanted it or there was interest in it I was never I was always campaigning in America I was fighting the big names in America in America fighting the world champions defending my world titles it was just that when

he started talking more about it I thought you know what it is a big fight in the UK especially it'd be massive not in America but when I was making being big having the big fights in America I thought there's no point me coming back to UK that Kelbook fight will always be there and I knew one day in my life is going to happen

I would never leave the sport without that fight happening So then obviously now it's come to our stage. You thought I can go away and do the things I want to do because Kel's always going to be there? Correct, 100%. I mean, I don't know if that's the wrong thing to say, but I mean, it was just because I thought that, look, people like fighters like Terrence Crawford,

fighters like Maidana, Zab Judah, they're not going to be there all the time and I might not ever get the opportunity to fight them guys, but with Kel, he's always going to be there. It's a British fight, and even if he retired, he'll come back out of retirement and just take that fight, you know, and that's how much she's wanted it as well. Why don't you like Kelbrook?

What don't you like about him? I think he just lived off my name all his career, really. And it kind of just gets me a little bit angry and stuff thinking, why is he always calling me here? Even times when you knew I was fighting someone else, he still called me, I talked about about me. What do you make of him as a fighter? What do you see as his strengths?

I respect him as a fighter. Look, at the day he's been a world champion, he's fought the best out there. He won a world title against Sean Potter. Sean Potter, he's a very good fighter, and he beat him. His strengths are, he comes forward, likes to pressurize his fighters, He throws a lot of punches.

It's very powerful, very slick, and has great movement. What does he have? What are his weaknesses, as you see them? I think it's a pretty, it's hard to say. You know, at the day, look, whenever someone wins a world title, you have to respect him for that. But I just don't think he has the heart anymore. I think he's had an amazing career.

I think he's been in some big fights. He's done very well. He's very well known. So, you know, respect and credit to him, anyone what gets in that ring and puts a pair of gloves on. You've got to take your out of to him because when, because it's a shoe in there on your own, you know? So you do admire what he's achieved?

Yeah, of course I do. I've always given him his due. He hadn't done it to me. What do you see as his strengths? Speed. I think he's, obviously, he's got very fast hands. You know, he's quite fast on his feet, you know, but he's a good fighter, but he's not on my level.

What would you say are his weaknesses? His chin, you know, I think that the world knows that his chin's not there, you know, the strongest part on him. Yeah, I mean, look, in the day, you're not in boxing. If you're going to get hit with a good shot, you're going to go down. Obviously, I've gone up and down weight divisions for big guys like Canello. Obviously, you're going to get hit. If you get hit clean by a bigger guy, you can get knocked down. So, yeah, I mean, I think that's the only advantage he's got on me, he thinks.

But to be honest with you, I really believe that Kel can't take a shot. I think his chin is really bad compared to when it comes to, I mean, look, I've seen him be hurt by him with a jab. I've seen him be put down. His last couple of fights he's been put down. He's been hurt quite badly. And obviously them, them eye sockets. You have heard about the problems he's had in previous fights having both eye sockets,

fractured. One was against Golovkin, the other one against Spence. I mean, look, he's in a position where he's, you can get hurt really badly. My earliest memory, I'm here Khan, 2004 Olympics. And I was, it's weird because I'm now promoting his fight, but I was 11 years old. And that was one of my earliest memories. And I was fascinated by Amir in the first few years.

He was just such a superstar. And obviously, you know, close to where I live. I used to go to the Baltimore Wanderers games a lot when I was young. And Amir was a big important fixture in that as well. So I was trying to work out how old you were. when Khan won a world title, so what, 2009? What you would have been like at 14?

Yeah, yeah, 14, 15. I am Benjamin Shalom, and I am the youngest licensed boxing premier in the UK. I recently got the deal with Sky Sports through a promotional company called Boxer. I'm 28 years old. I got into boxing when I was 23. Worked my way up,

done every single job from foreign opponents to matchmaking, to press conference setups, and now obviously the promoter on Sky Sports, so it's been a good journey, but it's not been overnight. All boxing fans will know that this is a fight that, you know, people have wanted to see for a long time, but no one's been able to get it over the line. The opportunity just was there.

I think it made sense for both fighters. They both recently fought for world titles, but we're sort of getting to the point where this was sort of the last thing that they needed to settle. and yeah, Kel's been wanting it a long time and I'm here now, you know, it makes sense for him as well. So I think the stars aligned. We did think this fight would be made in June, July last year.

It just shows how difficult it was to make, get made that it's now happening February this year. The question is how? That's what I want to know, as a fan, really, more than anything. How, how did you make this fight? They wouldn't be in the same room. They wouldn't talk to each other. You know, it runs so deep.

So it just made the negotiations ridiculous. But in the end, dealing with them separately, doing a separate deal for both of them, understanding what each of them needed and wanted and trying to deal with them, you know, independently, I think, is what made it work. And having it at the Manchester Arena, both of them agreed that was a place it should happen. I know that sometimes with negotiations, there's a lot of things that are confidential. But can you give us an idea of some of the challenges that you would face in trying to bring these two together? I know one of those things is the weight.

So, for example, at well-to-weight, they would fight at 14-7, but you've agreed a catch-weight, so they'll come in two pounds over that. The weight was massive, obviously the usual ones, like whose name goes first, changing rooms, money. Kell probably struggled at the weight as a well-to-weight at 14-7 for a long time. And he said that, hasn't he? He's been open about that. Yeah, he has. And so at this age, 35, it can be quite difficult.

One thing you don't want is Kel to lose his power. But at the same time, you want Amir to have his speed and be fighting a weight he's comfortable at and I think this is the perfect weight. It's a true 50-50 fight and I think the weight in the end is what makes it such a big fight. We are at the famous Winkabank Boxing Club,

famous Brendan Engel, the Ingle family, Johnny Nelson, Bammer Graham, Prince de Seam, Junior Witter, the list goes on and on. They've all been in this gym. I was excited to come here because it is a proper famous boxing gym. These famous lines on the floor is what Brendan had put down years ago before I would probably even born.

You know, these circles, the lines, you know, to do your footwork to be orthodox, unorthodox. We use these every single day. Because people do you say it's quite like a distinctive footwork of people who train here in this gym? This is a method that the famous Brendan Ingle put down. It's about switching it in our style. One of the things that I love about the sport is you fought around the world. in massive, massive big money fights

and yet who we are on this like quiet street in the middle of Sheffield, you know? It's quite an unassuming play. I know, it's just, it's where it is, in it? Like you said, I've been to all these places and you think that it could be somewhere like elegant, somewhere really nice, but it's just in Winkerbank on Newman Road.

My name's Kellbrook, Boxer, father, many things, many things. I'm born at Novin's. I know in general hospital in Sheffield. That's where I were born. Sheffield, born and bred? Born and bred. Made a steel.

What was growing up like in Sheffield? We're really good, you know, I really enjoyed it. Everyone's nice, you know, this is where you're from. You know, you know everyone now. You know, I just live on a council of state. We all used to, back then, we all used to play out and come back in dead late. Boxing saved my life. You know, um.

saved your life? Just that focus, having that routine is the best thing for me. And if boxing weren't in my life from where I'm from, you know, you're a product to your own environment and I think that a lot of people have grew up. They've always took the wrong road, you know, and it would have been needed for me to just go down that wrong path. When did you first come here? How did it come about?

It come about by, I were writing to like Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee and Jim Claude Van Down. And I was a really hyperactive, really hyperactive, loads of energy. So my dad actually brought me down here to burn some energy off. And as soon as they come in, I loved it. You know, seeing everyone, seeing these grown men like, we're no top on sweating, punching back, sparring each other. And I thought, yeah, I'm excited to do some of this.

How old were you then, do you reckon? I were nine. I were nine, you're all in the first walking here. How old are you now standing here today? 35. I've definitely been here in here a few years. He's the fighting pride of Sheffield, Yorkshire, England. The undefeated, the well-dawake champion of the world.

The special one. Kell, Special King. I'm Dominic Ingoll, the coach of Kelbrook. I've been training him from nine years old along with my father, Brendan Ingle, and you're more or less training from being a pro at 18. If I take you back to the start, like when Kel first came in this gym,

can you tell us first impressions of him? What was he like as a kid? He got a big afro. He was a little chunky, chubby kid, and he was to stand at that ring post just there, and we said to him, do your footwork, and he'd be up and down doing the lines,

and then Nazim Amid had come in, and he'd stand at that corner there and be looking up, and we said, Kel, do your footwork. And he'd do his footwork again. And when we weren't watching, he'd get back to the corner ring and watch Nas again. And he'd just be watching the fighters. And you could see that sparkle in his eye.

How did you reflect on your career so far? Is there a highlight? Could you pick one highlight? I think I'd have to say winning the world title. Obviously, going to Carson, California, into America, his backguarding and winning the world title. I didn't sleep for three days, because I didn't sleep for three days

because I was scared if I went to sleep that I'd wake up in it red dream I swear I swear it was I would have walking on air And the new Everyone what walks into a box gym

All over the world wants to go out and be a world champion Not just winning it in In your back garden Sheffield The city of Sheffield I went to his back garden In America

You know everybody wrote me off And I went out And I won a close fight You know so it would just That's honestly one of the nicest things I've ever heard Don't want to go to sleep I didn't want to go to sleep

I watched back that fight recently before I came to see you and just the pictures of you afterwards Yeah that's what it's all about right Well that work You could see the emotion straight away When I'd want Which it means to To someone who

You know who ties them gloves on They all want to be a world champion To go out and to do it Could you pick a low point? Has there been a low point? I'm sure there's been lots of challenges You know it's a love hate It's a love of air boxing, you know, everybody knows that. But, you know, just like my first defeat, you know,

breaking my eye socket to Golofkin. He goes to the body, Golokkin, now lands an overhand right and Brooke looks tired, takes a long full of breath, as he goes back to the neutral corner on the far side of the ring. Someone who wants to be a winner and always used to winning, you know, you never believe that you're going to lose. And to lose my first fight against Golofkin and also, you know, seeing my mum and dad,

seeing me go to hospital straight after at fight, and the doctor saying, The doctor's saying that I could have been blinded, you know, one big, one more big shot. And just, you know, I said that with the lowest point, obviously. And now of Kelbrook has decided he's seen enough. We wanted this a mere Kahn fight from way, way back. Carn's always hinted at it. But I think in his heart of hearts, Karn's always known it's all right to lose against

the big names in America across the sea. But to fight, to lose to a domestic fighter like Kilbrook, he'd never be able to live that down. They're both at the end of the career, but you still want to win. It's not a good outlook for either fighter or losers, you know, Kell or Amir Khan. Why is I got before the Olympic team because I was schooling Kelberg with one hand. I used to be going to the training camp and the coach is telling me, Amir, just used one hand against him now.

He's so deluded. That guy is so deluded. Talk to us about Amir Khan. When did he first appear on your radar? He's being on radar for decades, I swear. You know, it just won the Olympics are already professional. And we got told that we'd be, you know, like two Cs in a pot. grow like Brancheson obviously come together at some stage but it never has happened it never

did happen how important was it for you to have this fight in the north of england i think it's it has to be in the north of england because we're both from up north it's the king of the north north it's a real grudge match it's bragging right this fight you know it's been going on for over a decade two decades this fight we're going to talk about the weight because you're fighting at a catch weight of one four nine how how difficult is it for you to get to that weight how does that feel for you? It's difficult if you ask any a fighter or professional at this level

or any level. If you've got to make a championship weight it's tough. What does it involve? How tough is it? Tell us? You know, it's just, we're like, we like a few rich teas or digesties, don't we?

I've got a sweet tooth. I've got a very sweet tooth. When you're not allowed to have that, you end up getting irritated, you're dieting, you're like, it's not nice, you're angry. You're angry. It's not good, but, you know, I've come to the stage

where I just look at, I look up food as fuel. One of the big questions surrounding the fight is why now? It's something you've alluded to already. People have waited a long time for this fight. There's been a lot of back and forth. Why now? Why are you taking this right now?

And a cynic would say, is it that both you and I'm here are looking for, you know, a big payday? Of course we're after a payday. You know, we're prize fighters ended there, but, you know, I've heard that he's... him and his wife are eye maintenance. You know, so he's got to keep them pennies. and I think this is the biggest fight out there for him.

He's got a lot of resilience. Not only has Kelbrook been through a lot in the ring, he's been through a lot outside of the ring. We always used to say about Keld that it could fall in a pile of horse muck and get up smelling a rose as it just seems to be that's the way he is. So the general consensus is that yes, we wish we'd seen this fight sooner, but we still want to watch it. I don't think anyone really knows what's going to happen this weekend in Manchester,

but after making this podcast, I would be surprised if either of the them were to retire. Although this is boxing, so don't hold me to that. I'm starting to lean more towards Khan where I think Khan can outwork him. I'm Connor Ben, the destroyer, also known as, and I am an undefeated boxer. I'm a son of a living legend, Nigel Ben, Hall of Famer. I think that pretty much sums me up. He always brings the action. Is he vulnerable? Everyone knows he's vulnerable, but I mean, everyone loves a bit of vulnerability. That's what I always love watching. British rivalry fights always the biggest, and this is one the biggest around

that's been talked about for a very long time. Oh, well, I never will put out the plan out there, but I will tell you this, though. Oh, I'm looking for him just to come away with a good win. It's intriguing. It could go either way, but that's what makes it the fight it is, because I can't call it and no one can. I'm just possessed.

I'm attracting that win. I'm dreaming about it. I know I can visualize it. We'll tell after four rounds, who's weathered the storm better. Probably the last rodeo for both guys. I wish him the best, but my money's on Kelbrook for this one. He's wanted the fight more.

over the years and I think looking at him in the gym I think he's training better and harder. I just got that new love again in the sport of boxing and I just want to show people that I've always been the better fighter and why I'm the better fighter. Is Kelbrook's finishing skills still there? Is his accuracy and timing still there? I don't know. It'll just be nice to know that I've got in there and done what I'm supposed to do to him and win and then it'll be just a smile on my face point fans come on and I'll say, I told you, did that? I told you. Or getting ready for bedtime.

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