IN November, when the Amir Khan v Kell Brook clash was still just a possibility, I described them as yesterday’s men — and maintained it should not happen.
I certainly haven’t changed my mind. In fact, I feel I was probably being too kind.
Actually, they are the day BEFORE yesterday’s men.
Khan has not fought for almost three years. Brook, with two titanium plates to repair fractured eye sockets thanks to Gennady Golovkin and Errol Spence Jr, has been out of the ring for 16 months.
In his last meaningful fight, Amir quit in the sixth against Terence Crawford. When Kell challenged the American for the WBO welterweight title, he was KO’d in the fourth — and we haven’t seen him since.
These two former world champions are so far past their sell-by dates, the ink has faded so badly it is now unreadable.
This fight would’ve meant something if it had taken place when it should have done — six years ago.
The only justification seems to be providing two multi-millionaires with a boost to their pension pots. It isn’t surprising Manchester Arena is sold out, though.
This phoney war has the same morbid fascination as a motorway crash. You feel guilty staring, yet you can’t take your eyes off it.
I doubt either will fancy fighting beyond six rounds. I reckon as soon as Brook lands a clean shot on Khan’s suspect chin, it will be over.
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Most supposed grudge matches are contrived ticket-selling vehicles and when the final bell sounds, men meant to hate each other cuddle up like long-lost brothers.
Derek Chisora v David Haye is a classic. Chisora, after being out-pointed by Vitali Klitschko in Munich, had a brawl with Haye at the post-fight press conference when his fellow Brit heckled him.
Haye went on to knock out Chisora at Upton Park — then ended up becoming his manager and promoter. They looked like life-long pals throughout their partnership.
Carl Froch said of George Groves, who he defeated twice: “I f***ing hated him and wanted to knock his teeth down his throat.”
Yet the pair have recently been seen with their arms around each other working as TV pundits. Some grudges, though, are carried to the grave. Joe Frazier despised Muhammad Ali for constantly calling him an ‘Uncle Tom’.
US President Bill Clinton and a worldwide audience were moved to tears when, ravaged by Parkinson’s and shaking violently, Ali lit the Olympic flame at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
The next morning, Frazier was asked on TV if he had found the scene moving — and snarled: “They should have thrown him in the fire.”
The longest-running feud in British boxing was between the two top promoters of their day — Jack Solomons and Harry Levene — which carried on for nearly 40 years.
When Solomons died in 1979, Levene was asked if he would like to say something, “My next show is at Wembley on March 22,” he replied. Now that is a REAL grudge match.
