As Amir Khan and Kell Brook made their first public appearances of fight week ahead of Saturday’s hugely anticipated bout, Sky Sports News was on hand to pick up on any clues provided by the fighters.
The pair were greeted by large crowds at Manchester’s Trafford Centre on Wednesday afternoon as they performed public workouts ahead of Saturday’s grudge match, which is live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Brook, a Yorkshireman on Khan’s Lancashire turf, arrived in the ring to some booing, while Khan was almost universally cheered by the locals. But beyond the pantomime scenes, there was plenty of information to be gleaned by the who’s who of British boxing in attendance.
Crolla ‘pleasantly surprised’ by Brook | Coldwell worried over weight Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Frazer Clarke showed off some of his power ahead of his professional debut, Natasha Jonas looked slick as she prepared for her third attempt to become a world champion, but with Brook due in the ring next, tension levels suddenly grew.
While Khan’s most loyal supporters attempted to make Brook feel unwelcome, those with a close-up view of the Sheffield fighter were quickly wowed by his appearance.
Preparing to fight for the first time since a defeat by stoppage to Terence Crawford in November 2020, Brook emerged in fantastic shape, exhibiting vicious power as he thudded punches into trainer Dominic Ingle’s pads.
After impressing in the ring, Brook told Sky Sports that Khan had made a mistake by elongating negotiations for the fight, and that extra time in training has left him in a position to get down to the 149lbs weight limit far more easily than in the past.
