By Shaun Brown
Boxing Scene has been told that representatives for Kell Brook and Amir Khan will begin discussions to try and secure a fight between the two British welterweights on June 4 at Wembley Stadium.
Brook, the IBF world champion is currently waiting to find out where the next defence of his title, against Kevin Bizier, will take place with purse bids due in for January 12. Boxing Scene has been informed that February 20 in Sheffield is an option as are dates in America and Canada.
Khan, who has been enjoying New Year’s Eve celebrations in New York, was last in action on May 29, 2014 when the former 140lb world champion gained a hard-fought 12-round unanimous decision against Chris Algieri.
“I’ve sent them [Khan's team] all the figures for a Wembley fight for them to review and we’ve agreed that in the early part of January we’ll start to open discussions and negotiations if you like,” Brook’s promoter Eddie Hearn told Boxing Scene.
“I seen loads of stuff about Wembley on June 4. There have been no negotiations with Team Khan. There has been conversations between myself and Amir, myself and Taz, myself and Saj who are two guys from Team Khan.”
Hearn, who has promoted Brook for nearly five years, explained why the date of June 4 has been chosen.
“Wembley is impossible to get and June 4 is the date that we can get so all I done there is reserve that with a view to hold Brook-Khan there, not because I think it’s going to happen. If it’s going to happen that would be the date that would be available for Wembley.”
Khan, a silver medallist at the 2004 Olympic Games, has given no real indication to his plans for the coming year. Talk of a fight involving himself and his domestic rival has turned into a will they-won’t they Carl Frampton vs. Scott Quigg saga.
With Manny Pacquiaio vs. Timothy Bradley 3 having just been announced, Danny Garcia due to fight Robert Guerrero and Keith Thurman nearing a fight with Shawn Porter the options at welterweight are beginning to thin for Khan.
“There’s been so much posturing and talking over the years, the fact is now Amir’s missed [a fight with] Mayweather, Amir’s missed [a fight with] Pacquiao and I think that the reason he’s missed them is because he’s a very good and dangerous fighter and tough to beat!” said Hearn.
“Common sense surely must tell you that this is the fight and this is the fight to make now. I feel like it’s quite easy to make, other than talking about the splits which is always going to be interesting. There’s that much money in the pot you can’t ignore it and it’s for a world title.
“The bottom line is that it’s two fantastic fighters, two of the very best 147lbrs in the world that happen to be from Britain, in a mega-fight where there happens to be a world title on the line. I’d be devastated if the fight didn’t happen.”
Shaun Brown is Boxing Scene’s UK News Editor. Follow him on Twitter @sbrown2pt0 Contact him at sbrownboxing@gmail.com