By Edward Chaykovsky
According to promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, Amir Khan priced himself out from fighting IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook on June 4th date in Wembley.
Khan went on the social networks and claimed Brook had demanded a 50-50 split of money. Not so says Hearn, who claims Khan and his team were demanded what would have been a split that toppled over 80-20 in Amir's favor. Hearn offered a 60-40 split in Khan's favor.
"I had a meeting on Monday with Amir Khan's lawyer and, firstly, when you are dealing with Amir Khan you are dealing with about three or four different parties and it is very confusing," Hearn told Sky Sports News HQ.
"On Monday, I was told you've got to be nice and don't talk about these negotiations, they are confidential. I was just sitting at my desk half-an-hour ago and I saw them all unearth on Twitter, so I felt I had to come out and say my piece because the situation is, he is trying to price himself out of the fight because he doesn't want the fight. I feel the British public and fight fans need to know the truth that we are doing all that we can. Kell Brook is doing everything he can to make the fight that the British public want."
Brook is scheduled to make a mandatory defense against Kevin Bizier at Sheffield Arena on March 26. Hearn wanted the Khan showdown in place for June, but that won' likely happen at this point.
Hearn agrees with some recent comments that were made by Manny Pacquiao, who claims Khan's middlemen ruined their own negotiations. Khan is planning to return in March and then will target the winner of Saturday's fight between Danny Garcia and Robert Guerrero. Hearn says a rematch with Garcia, who knocked Khan out in four rounds in 2012, will bring the British star far less money.
"It has been very positive the last few weeks because we've been talking and when there's dialogue, it's always good. But, like I said, when we had that meeting on Monday, I was left gobsmacked by their demands," Hearn said. "It is effectively bigger than an 80-20 split. We are talking about a voluntary defence of a world title by a world champion Kell Brook to Amir Khan.
"I appreciate Khan is probably a bigger name than Kell Brook, but Kell Brook is world champion and he needs some kind of parity, but more importantly he needs respect. That's why we are talking about a 60-40 split, it's a great deal for Amir Khan. About a year and a half ago I made Amir Khan an offer of $5m to fight Kell Brook, this is more like $10m and in fact it is probably more. The fight with Danny Garcia will not even generate him $5m and there is absolutely no reason for him not to fight Kell Brook, unless you don't want the fight.
