By Frank Warren
Amir Khan and Bob Arum both celebrated birthdays on Tuesday. Bolton’s former light-welter champ turned 29 and Uncle Bob is still in there punching as pugnaciously as ever as one of the world’ great promoters at 84.
However I doubt they exchanged birthday greetings.
Khan is more than a little peeved that he looks like being elbowed out of a hoped-for spring date with Bob’s main man Manny Pacquiao, his old stablemate, while Uncle Bob himself wasn’t best pleased that Amir’s people erroneously jumped the gun by telling the media that contracts had been agreed.
They weren’t, and it now seems the Pacman will make his valedictory bow by completing the trilogy with Timothy Bradley, which stands at one-all, leaving Khan in the cold again.
There is talk of him now settling long-standing domestic differences with the IBF welter champion Kell Brook at Wembley in June – but it is merely that. Talk.
Khan himself says he has had only a cursory of discussion with Brook’s promoter and that any deal is a very long way off from being struck.
He hasn’t fought since last May when he beat Chris Algieri and that is a worryingly long time for someone of his age to be inactive. Whatever may or may not happen with Brook he needs a fight in the New Year or by the early spring. So here’s my suggestion to him.
Why not move up and fight the winner of the December 19 Liam Smith v Jimmy Kelly for the WBO World super-welterweight title?
It shouldn’t be a problem for a good fighter like him to sneak on a few pounds for what would be a good pay day and a great fight for the public.
Think about it, Amir.
