Amir Khan and Kell Brook are more fragile but their feud is as fiery as ever

On Saturday night in Manchester, one of the finest British fights in the modern game finally takes place when Amir Khan and Kell Brook meet in a clash of the decorated veterans.

The two fighters, both 35 now, have shared the British boxing limelight, had their lasting moments of outrageous glory and their equally shocking days in despair during the last fifteen years. Their fight this Saturday has been discussed, dismissed and wanted for longer than any other fight in British boxing history.

The two ex-world champions meet in a fight for pride and bragging rights in the final moments of two long, long careers; the pair have been the main event, the television attraction over 50 times, fought in a combined total of 16 world title fights and a total of 44 fights for some type of title. They have been at the very core of British boxing; respected, rich and willing to take risks.

And, it is personal, very personal. The venue, which holds close to 19,000 people, sold-out in just six minutes. It’s late, sure, but it is still a major attraction.

“I don’t like him,” insisted Brook. “He’s a liar, he has no respect for me and he has no chin.”

“He’s never done what I have done,” said Khan. “He has made his name off my name – I knew I would get him.”

They have clashed at ringside, in studios and when they were teenagers in the sparring ring. There are enough versions of the sparring tale to fill several pages in a book of boxing exaggerations, lies and wishful thinking. I know a dozen confirmed liars who have told me what happened and they were not even there. Both boxers have told me their version of the spar in private; both are very different and I believe them both. Hey, it’s that type of sport, it’s that type of truth.

Khan