AMIR KHAN and Kell Brook will become ‘stepping stones’ for the next generation of welterweights if they don’t retire after their long-awaited grudge match.
The battle-weathered 35-year-olds will finally settle their decade long-feud tomorrow night in an eagerly-anticipated domestic dust-up in Manchester.
Retirement hasn’t crossed either man’s mind ahead of their Battle of Britain, but ex-cruiserweight champ Johnny Nelson is hoping the pair will see sense and protect their legacies by calling it a day.
Sky Sports Boxing Expert Nelson told SunSport: “They’ll become gatekeepers if they don’t retire after this fight.
“They’ll become the guys that are former world champions that have still got it. But can they produce it on the night when it’s expected of them?
“They’ll be the stepping stones for the youngsters coming through. Common sense tells me that the winner and loser will say, ‘You know what? I’ve had a great time, I’m done.’
“It’ll be a hard slog for the loser and they might say, ‘that’s not the end of me’ depending on the fashion of the loss.
“But I hope, unless they’re fighting each other again, I hope that the winner and the loser say, ‘I’ve had a great time. Britain, thank you.’”
Khan vs Brook – ring walk time, undercard, TV channel and live stream info for HUGE fight night
Nelson reckons the pain of defeat to their bitter rival will leave the loser with no choice but hang up their gloves.
He added: “As an ex-fighter myself, would I have wanted to carry on boxing after being beaten by my domestic rival? No, I wouldn’t.
“Because where’s my ambition? It tells you that I’m just going in there for the money.
“This is a big-money fight for both fighters, but pride also takes place as well.
“So, therefore, the loser will end up being a stepping stone for the young bucks coming through.
“And I think both of these fighters have got too much pride to let that be the case.”
Khan has vowed to inflict serious damage on Brook‘s twice surgically-repaired face.
But Nelson reckons the Bolton bruiser doesn’t have the power to dent the Sheffield slugger’s steely chin.
He said: “I honestly don’t think Amir Khan hits hard enough to create that kind of damage. I think if he’s busy enough and throws enough shots, he can shock Kell.
“But to be bone-breaking, I don’t really think Amir Khan is really that fighter. But there’s a vulnerability for there Kell Brook and he’s got to make sure he protects that.”
Watch the BOXXER grudge match between Amir Khan and Kell Brook exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office on Saturday from 6pm via www.skysports.com/boxoffice.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
