By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Collins stated that a Pacquiao-Brook fight “would be huge,” reacting to this writer’s remarks that “we’ve always wanted Pacquiao to fight in Britain against Ricky Hatton in the past and more recently Amir Khan because it will be a draw in attendance and on pay per view.”
“I recall how the Brits mobbed Manny wherever he went when he was on tour prior to fighting Ricky (Hatton),” Collins said.
Chris Algieri’s publicist Bernie Bharmasel, president of Double B Publicity, joined in stating: “How about Algieri, post Manny victory, versus Kell Brook at Madison Square Garden?”
Following his win over Porter, who was a former sparring partner of Pacquiao, Brook spoke about a potential fight with Amir Khan, who had earlier said he’d like to fight either Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Pacquiao, the Filipino icon’s friend, who trained together under Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach both at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles and in the Philippines.
“The British public want it (fight vs Khan), but he’ll probably say I need to win another title. I know he doesn’t like me. Fact is, he is getting it. I’m the champ of the world,” Brook said.
Khan responded and said he would be happy to face Brook, setting up the potential to rival the fight between George Groves and Carl Froch at Wembley earlier this year.
“If the fight can happen, let’s make it happen. I’m up for it,” BBC Radio Five Live Sport quoted Khan as saying.
Suggesting that the fight if made, take place at historic Wembley Stadium Khan added: “We can fill that out. That would be a quick sell. It’s the fight that the UK fans want to see and have been talking about for such a long time.”
Khan, a welterweight contender, who scored an impressive 12-round unanimous decision over Luis Collazo last May 3 to win the WBC Silver and WBA International welterweight titles, has been pushing for a showdown with Pacquiao for sometime now.
With Pacquiao scheduled to defend his title against undefeated WBO light welterweight champion Chris Algieri on Nov. 22 in Macau and Mayweather facing Marcos Maidana in a rematch on Sept. 13, Khan plans to fight Robert Guerrero or Devon Alexander in December, while hoping for a clash with Pacquiao or Mayweather next year.
