Kell Brook knocked out Amir Khan in the sixth round. Following a protracted All-British mega-fight between the two popular fighters on Saturday at the AO Arena, Manchester, Kell Brook knocked out Khan in an emphatic fashion.
Kell Brook produced a one-sided beatdown of Amir Khan for six rounds before referee Victor Loughlin intervened to stop the contest.
Such was the one-sided beatdown that the audience clapped for Amir Khan for withstanding the barrages of Kell brook’s onslaught at the end of the fifth round.
Referee Loughlin was roundly praised for waiving off the fight in the sixth round.
The two former champions finally fought on Saturday in a long-anticipated and overdue boxing fight which saw Kell Brook coming out superior during the night.
It was obvious from the first round that Amir Khan would have a long night as signs showed that he was troubled twice in the round with his legs wobbly at some point. However, he fought on to survive a torrid first round.
Credit should be given to the Bolton-based fighter who came out aggressively in the second round, picking his trademark fast punches.
However, Kell Brook patiently rebuffed his flurries of fast hands and ended the second round with Amir Khan edging it slightly.
Khan was again hurt at the end of the third round, though he was winning until he appeared pushed down by Brook’s bodyweight. Referee Loughlin rightly ruled it as a pushover.
Khan endured a brutal fifth round from his rival, and was under even more pressure in the sixth and hurt and, rightly, referee Laughlin stepped in to halt the contest.
Speed Versus Timing
Ardent followers of pugilism and those two have shown keen interest in the boxing professional careers of both boxers knows that a fight between Amir Khan and Kell Brook will always be about Khan’s speed haggling it out with Brook’s timing, and the play did not disappoint.
It was always Khan’s speed against Brook’s timing. Brook kept his focus, picked his shots brilliantly, landed the heavier blows and covered up skilfully.
The bad blood evaporated afterwards, as Brook went to Khan’s corner, to check on him. But there was controversy before the fight.
Even to the last moments, minutes before the walk-ins to the sold-out, raucous Manchester Arena, there was a dispute over gloves, with Khan’s team complaining about the horse-hair gloves being worn by Brook in his dressing room.
The Sheffield man had to change gloves and have new ones, the brand ‘Grant’, re-taped in the ring. Mind games to the last. Brook had walked in first. Khan several minutes later.
It should have taken place six years ago yet the Manchester Arena was sold out for this ‘car crash’ fight, with both fighters well past their best.
It was still compelling as a match-up, as Khan and Brook indulged in a score-settling contest, in a bragging rights brawl of the highest order, two prizefighters not interested in titles but full of desire for the championship of each other.
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A Legacy Fight Indeed
For both Kell Brook and Amir Khan, it was a legacy fight indeed.
A chance to put to rest, a protracted professional rivalry.
For the record, they both received millions of pounds for doing it, but the money will just ease the pain a little for the loser.
There have been other significant grudge fights in British boxing history – such as the pairings of Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis and David Haye and Dereck Chisora at heavyweight, among others.
Kell Brook wanted to earn some legacy respect out of Khan to end their 20-year grudge.
Amir Khan, on the other hand, wanted to prove once and for all that he was “levels above” his foe, who has hounded and harried him since they both claimed world titles, respectively, 10 years and eight years ago but on Saturday, Kell Brook came out on top.
It has grown more and more personal since the fight was announced in November last year. Away they went camping, Khan with his nemesis, the three-weight undefeated world champion Terence Crawford and his trainer Brian McIntyre, and Brook to The Canaries, reunited with Dominic Ingle, who has known him since he walked in as a tearaway nine-year-old from a Sheffield council estate.
The pair first sparred as schoolboys in 2002, creating a rivalry that over the years turned into a sour hatred of the other. Now they have settled the score once and for all. And Brook can now call himself Khan’s nemesis.
Natasha Jonas Thrumped Chris Namus
37 years old Liverpudlian, Natasha Jonas moved up three weight classes, putting in a spectacular second-round stoppage of Uruguayan Chris Namus to become a world champion by lifting the vacant WBO light-middleweight crown.
Mobility and elusiveness from the opening salvos were always going to be key against the naturally bigger woman, this, she deployed effectively against her naturally bigger opponent.
During the opening round, Jonas knocked down Namus with a perfectly timed one-two, which left her rival on unsteady legs by the end of the first round.
Jonas put Namus down again with a left in the second round, staggering backwards and down, to be counted out by referee Howard Foster.
Namus’s corners were also poised with the towel.
“People think I’m exaggerating when I say it means everything, but they honestly don’t know the sacrifices, not just boxers, but every athlete goes through,” Jonas said afterwards.
Kell Brook vs Amir Khan – As It Happened
Round Six
Kell Brook steams out of the traps in the sixth round and has wobbled Khan again!
The Bolton fighter is on the ropes and Brook unloads a series of vicious shots with nothing coming back – and the referee has waved it off!
KELL BROOK WINS BY TKO IN ROUND SIX!
Brook wins an absolute thriller!!
Round Five
A slower start to this round but it explodes into life with Brook landing a powerful combination which has Khan looking unsteady on his feet yet again!
Kell Brook is much more patient with his attack in this round and just looking to hunt his man down.
He lands another combo but Khan shows superb powers of recovery to stay upright.
Another round in the bank for Brook who has landed with more venom and has repeatedly hurt his opponent.
Brook 49-46 Khan
Round Four
Slightly calmer in this round after the storm of the first three stanzas.
Brook marches forward and tries to close the space down as Khan circles around the ring.
Khan catches his rival with a beautifully-timed counter left hook.
Brook lands another slashing right hand to end the round and he hurts Khan again!
Then the two fighters have words in the clinch as the bell rings!
Brook 39-37 Khan
Round Three
A lovely straight right from Brook catches Khan flush but he rides it well.
Brook is a bit sluggish in the middle of the ring and Khan fires a three-punch combination with the Sheffield man unable to respond.
Crunching left hook-right hand combo from Khan but Brook replies with a huge overhand right which has Khan on unsteady legs!.
And a slashing right from Brook in the last 30 seconds has Khan in serious trouble! What a fight so far.
Khan was on top in that round but suddenly found himself fighting to survive just before the bell.
Brook 29-28 Khan
Round Two
Khan looks steadier at the start of this round. Brook continues to dominate the centre ring but Khan darting in and out and still trying to fight fire with fire.
Khan’s hands are still absolutely rapid despite his time out of the ring.
Now a slashing left and right from Brook but Khan shrugs it off!
Lovely one-two combination from Khan, followed up by a stiff jab. The Bolton man just snuck that round on my card.
Brook 19-19 Khan
Round One
The first bell rang. Kell Brook holding the centre ring and Khan moving fluently around the outside. Khan’s hand speed on show early and he lands a nice little flurry.
But Khan has been wobbled with a short left! His legs are all over the place but he smiles at Brook and looks like he’s managed to clear his head.
Brook wobbles him again! Khan is badly hurt and his legs are jittery. He stays upright but only just!
The big first round for Brook!!
Brook 10-9 Khanmorganable.com/joshua-knocks-out-pulev-in-the-ninth-round
