By Elliot Foster
Kell Brook has vowed to knock out Amir Khan after watching his rival labour to victory over Samuel Vargas.
The former IBF welterweight champion was at ringside last Saturday as he watched former unified super-lightweight world champion Khan overcome adversity to secure another win.
Khan knocked down his opponent, himself a former world title challenger, in the second round of their bill-topping showdown at the Arena Birmingham but suffered the same fate seconds later.
Vargas, the 29-year-old Canadian-Colombian was dropped again in the third session but clung on to hear the final bell.
Khan, who was awarded the fight by unanimous decision after the three judges turned in tallies of 119-108, 119-109 and 118-110, then declared he wants to fight Brook or Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao, who holds the WBA 'regular' welterweight title, next.
But his fellow Brit told Sky Sports: "There is no way I would have let him off lightly.
"He definitely hasn't got the best chin and he would definitely being staying down there [if it was me in with him].
"Me and him has been going on for too long. I'll let him be the A-side because I will put him on his backside, trust me."
Khan hopes to fight once more this year, having fought just twice since he was knocked out by Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez back in May 2016.
He said: "I need to make sure I don't make my old mistakes again and I will make sure I don't.
"I won't do that, but I will 100 percent beat Manny Pacquiao and Kell Brook.
"Who do you want me to fight next? Manny Pacquiao or Kell Brook?
"There is a massive demands for me but there is only one fighter over Kell Brook and that is Manny Pacquiao. I want Manny Pacquiao first.”
Khan is drawn to the Pacquiao fight because he sees it as a legacy outing, but British fans will want to see the fight between the 31-year-old Bolton man and long-time rival Brook, who is from Sheffield.
"If it's not Pacquiao, we go back to the drawing board and then look at Brook."
Meanwhile, Eddie Hearn, the promoter of both Khan and Brook, insists the fight has to happen next –– if it is to happen at all.
"It's down to those guys, I think Khan has made it clear he wants Pacquiao or Brook," the Matchroom Boxing boss said.
"The Vargas fight was a big one for him and there is never a dull moment with Amir Khan.
"It'll be two weeks off then we will sit round the table. Kell wants the fight and I know Amir will fight him.
"It has to happen next or it will never happen, so it's up to these guys.
There's only so much we can do. We will listen to the public, we know Amir wants Pacquiao and he will fight Brook.
"It's now or never for the Kell Brook fight."