Amir Khan has been forced to defend his decision to fight Chris Algieri after a wave of criticism on social media.
The former double light-welterweight world champion is set to face the 31-year-old American in New York on May 30.
It has caused anger among boxing fans, who were hoping to see him step into the ring with bitter rival Kell Brook for the IBF welterweight title.
Khan took to Twitter to say: ?Can everyone please wake up. I said the fight between me and kel brook will happen.
?When I think it?s right. Look at who kel fought last.
?Proved myself so many times fighting A class opponents.
?Seems to me Kel brook is dying to fight me for the big pay day before he faces a half decent opponent and loses that IBF title.?
Khan is still determined to face the winner of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao later in the year.
Former WBO light welterweight champion Algieri has only lost once in his career – against Pacquiao in November.
Brook is frustrated by Khan’s decision to fight Algieri
But Brook says a Wembley showdown with him would have given the public the fight they want.
?If someone said to me you can get five million quid, a world title, fight at Wembley with a fight that every fan wants to see, it?s a no-brainer for me,? said the 28-year-old.
?He?s fighting Algieri who didn?t win a round against Pacquiao, a feather puncher, not a big puncher. It doesn?t make sense to me.
?I?m world champion, I?m calling him out, we want the fight, there?s a word title and a bagful of money and it doesn?t make sense that he?s fighting this guy who?s bringing nothing to the table.
?He?s said he?ll fight me before, but when it comes to it, I don?t get why he doesn?t want to fight me.
?Wherever I go it?s always Amir Khan, when are you going to fight him?
?He?s delicate around the whiskers, he knows I?m a big strong welterweight and he knows I?m coming for that chin of his.?
Khan, who produced a career-best performance against Devon Alexander in December, insists Algieri is an ?A-class opponent.?
Who should Khan fight next?Brook Algieri
The 28-year-old from Bolton said: ?He has fought decent opponents, beaten decent opponents, and just fell short against Manny Pacquiao, which is an A star opponent.
?He?s a decent boxer overall.
?He knows how to box and knows how to move well.
?He takes a decent amount of shots and he?s got a decent amount of power, so I think overall it?s going to be a good fight for me.
?Hopefully this can lead me on to the bigger fights in the future, which is what I?m looking at.?
