Kell Brook’s coach fears Amir Khan will pull out of next weekend’s grudge fight

After over a decade of teasing a fight, Brook and Khan will finally meet in the ring next weekend but Brook’s trainer is concerned Khan could pull out of the bout

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Amir Khan and Kell Brook face off for the first time

Boxing trainer Dominic Ingle is worried Amir Khan could pull out of his grudge fight with Kell Brook at the last minute.

Ingle, who is the lead trainer of Brook, is currently in Fuerteventura to help with the last preparations of his fighter’s training camp.

Brook and Khan have been linked to a fight for over a decade, but will meet in the final stages of their careers on February 19 at the Manchester Arena.

Khan has been travelling from city to city ahead of the fight and is currently working in Nebraska with welterweight champion Terence Crawford’s coach.

And Brook’s coach Ingle wouldn’t put it past Khan to pull out the fight next week.

“People are telling me that he’s done a few interviews and he seems to be making excuses about this injury and that injury, kind of putting it out there already.

“I wouldn’t be surprised and I don’t think it’s past him to either pull out with an injury or say he’s got Covid.

“Why is it always a fighter pulls out a week before a fight with Covid or an injury, it’s sometimes the realisation they’re not where they need to be in the camp, they haven’t done the work.

“Look at Khan, he’s over in Nebraska and he’s gone to Denver, he’s all over the place. You need to be settled in camps, he’s gone with [Terence] Crawford’s trainer whether that’s a good move or not, I don’t know.”

Brook – who seeks his 40th professional win against Khan – has taken over a year away from the ring since his stoppage loss to Crawford in 2020.

It’s been an even longer break away from the sport for Khan, who last knocked out Billy Dib in 2019 just three months after he was also stopped by Crawford.

And Ingle thinks boxing fans should be glad a fight between Khan and Brook has finally come to fruition.

Who wins – Amir Khan or Kell Brook? Let us know your prediction in the comments section below

“This is a big fight for Kell, it’s a big fight for the UK. People were putting this fight down and saying it’s not going to sell, it’s well past it’s sell by date,” he continued.

“You get people interested in Jake Paul and Tommy Fury, people these days want to see these kind of fights, it might not have happened when it should have done but at least it’s happening.

“I personally think that at any stage Khan would have boxed Kell in his career, Kell would have bet him and I don’t think that’s changed now.

“I still think Kell is better than Khan and that Khan is worse for wear to be honest, but we’ll see.”