No title at stake, but Amir Khan knows the importance of bout against Kell Brook

Amir Khan has likened his eagerly-awaited bout against nemesis Kell Brook to a world title fight after the pair came in under the contracted 10st 9lb limit at Friday’s weigh-in.

Only bragging rights are at stake for the two former world champions, both 35, and while the suspicion is they are both past their prime, tickets for Saturday’s event at Manchester’s AO Arena sold out in just 10 minutes.

The fans’ enthusiasm underlines the magnitude of a fight that has been years in the making, with Brook long coveting a meeting inside the ring against his British rival, only to be repeatedly turned down until recently.

But Khan (34-5 21KOs) recognises what is at stake this weekend, believing victory over his bitter foe would enhance how he is viewed in the years to come, even if he insisted this is not a farewell occasion.

Khan told the PA news agency: “It’s a must-win fight, for sure. Every fight is like a must-win fight but this one is absolutely a must-win fight because this is what is going to cement my legacy.

“This is like a world title fight for me.”

A teenaged Khan won Olympic silver in 2004 and went on to unify the light-welterweight division while he has fought at some of boxing’s grandest venues, including Madison Square Garden in New York and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

While his career has seemed to be winding down recently – he has not fought since beating lightly-regarded Billy Dib in July 2019 – Khan has suggested his contest against Brook will not be his final act in a boxing ring.

He added: “When I’m in training retiring is not to be talked about. I know one day I will be calling it a day but at this moment in time I feel good and I don’t want to.

“I feel like I’ve got one or two fights left in me after this.