Amir Khan admits to injury struggle ahead of Kell Brook grudge fight

Khan and Brook are just over a month out from finally settling their years-long rivalry with a massive fight in Manchester, but Khan is struggling with injuries

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Amir Khan and Kell Brook face off for the first time

Amir Khan has admitted he is struggling with injuries as he prepares to face Kell Brook next month.

The pair are set to finally settle their years-long rivalry at Manchester Arena on February 19 in a huge pay-per-view event.

Tickets sold out in record time for the bout which pits two former world champions against one another in a meeting that has been touted for years.

But Khan, who hasn’t fought since the summer of 2019, has said that during his camp in Colorado he has been dealing with some niggles.

However, he plans to “overcome” the pains he’s suffering and will still fight Brook in a bout where he is a considerable underdog.

“We all have injuries, sportsmen and women,” he told Sky Sports during an interview from his American training camp.

“When you’re at the elite level, we always have to overcome them pains and override them.

“Yeah I’ve got pains and I’ve got injuries when I’m in training.

“I’ve had to spar today and I still have to overcome them injuries, I can’t think of them I’ve just got to get on with them.

“My job is just to get ready for February 19 and obviously the aches and pains are there.

“As you get older – I’m 35 now – it’s not like when you’re 25 where you recover after a tough session.

“Now the body takes a bit of time but it’s good because I know if I continue pushing myself with those pains and aches, then I’ll be fine come fight night.

“I’ll be nice and recovered and nice and fresh come fight night.”

Khan is training at altitude in Colorado with trainer Brian ‘Bo Mac’ McIntyre, who also works with former opponent Terence Crawford.

The pound-for-pound great has stopped both Khan and Brook, most recently putting away Brook in 2020 for the welterweight title.

Weather has dropped to freezing temperatures in the infamous Colorado winter, which Khan says has “shocked the system” as he prepares for the massive fight.

Who do you see winning this fight, Kell Brook or Amir Khan? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!

“It’s not just a shock to the system because of the temperature,” Khan said. “It’s the altitude as well.

“It makes it even harder because doing one session here is like doing two sessions anywhere else.

“Today was a very cold day so we decided to move the sprints from outside to inside, which was very hard.

“Overall training is going well and all of the conditioning is on point.

“I’m hoping for the best Kell Brook out there, we’ve been watching the fights where he has looked his best.

“He’s looking sharp, he’s got the power and the speed, so we are going to be ready for the best Kell Brook come fight night.

“There’s no point in us watching his last fight, or the on before that, we’re aiming for the best Kell Brook and we are not cutting any corners.”