AMIR KHAN begged Eddie Hearn to make his long-awaited showdown with Kell Brook finally happen almost a year ago.
And the Bolton former world champ vowed to knock his bitter rival out in under six rounds.
Khan and Sheffield-born Brook, both 35, finally face off in an all-British blockbuster in Manchester on Saturday after years of speculation.
And back, in March 2021, Khan told talkSPORT that he was pushing for the fight to happen that summer.
He said: “What’s the fight that everyone wants to see?
“Everyone wants to see the Kell Brook fight. We’ve been talking about it for years and years.
“Look, me and Kell are probably past our best, I’ll be honest. But at the same time, we’re both around the same age.
“I think it’d be a good fight between us to see still who the number one is in Britain.”
BETTING SPECIAL – GET KHAN AT HUGE 40/1 OR BROOK AT 30/1 FOR BOXING SHOWDOWN
“So I called Eddie Hearn and I said ‘let’s make it happen’.
“Eddie said ‘no worries’, spoke to Kell’s family and Kell’s father wasn’t interested in it. He said ‘no, we’re gonna look at other options’.
“What other option is there for Kell Brook to make a good payday and fight someone with a big name like myself? Unless he fights someone with a world title or in America.
“So I’m scratching my head man, I’m thinking like, ‘What’s he going through?’
“What’s going on with Kell Brook? How come he doesn’t want the fight? Let’s make it happen.”
Khan was in no doubt who would win if he did get his wish, adding: “The prediction for me and Kell Brook? I knock out Kell Brook in under six rounds.”
Khan ultimately did not get his wish of a summer dust-up, but will now finally get a crack at his old foe.
Khan vs Brook – ring walk time, undercard, TV channel and live stream info for HUGE fight night
Back then he suggested he would ‘call it a day’ after facing Brook, but appears to have had a change of heart.
Khan told BBC breakfast earlier this week: “After Sunday? Career still going strong. I’m still fighting.
“I feel better at 35 than I was at 25, believe it or not.”
Khan added: “I feel so strong, so fresh. I’ve got that love back for the sport again.
“Training with the new team in Nebraska, they’ve brought the love back for me. I’m really excited to see what the future holds.”
