Amir Khan vs Kell Brook ‘still huge’ despite reality TV hiatus, says Eddie Hearn
Written by News on 26/11/2017
Amir Khan’s appearance on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! could help him build interest in a fight against Kell Brook, believes promoter Eddie Hearn.
Brook had teased that he would vote for Khan to "eat kangaroo testicles" as a punishment for failing to agree their anticipated fight, but Hearn insists they might still meet in the ring.
"Amir is in the jungle – I like that move, I don’t mind it," Hearn told Sky Sports. "People take the mickey out of him. The thing is with Amir Khan, sometimes his PR has been poor and he has come across terribly. But when you sit down with him and meet him, I’ve never left him thinking anything else but ‘he’s a nice guy’.
"Everyone you speak to says the same thing. Maybe the jungle will give people an opportunity to see the real Amir.
"I thought the snake thing was hilarious – but that’s okay because people like you to be exposed and open. He was, and he laughed."
Khan hasn’t fought since being knocked out by Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in May 2016 while Brook is recuperating from the second broken eye socket of his career, suffered in his defeat to Errol Spence Jr earlier this year.
Hearn hopes that a successful return to the ring for both fighters could perfectly tee up their fight for next year.
"I know they are both coming off losses but they are both elite fighters," Hearn said. "The grudge is real. It’s an all-British super fight. I’d like to see them both in the ring, getting some wins under their belts, and moving onto some huge fights.
"Amir Khan has achieved a lot in the sport and still has a lot to give. Khan-Brook is still a huge fight.
"I think Kell will return in March, I’m not sure what Amir is going to do. I’d like to see him return in March or April as well, and potentially build towards a fight in the closing period of 2018.
"2018 is the year for that fight. Once we start moving to 2019, have we missed the boat?
"I had a good meeting with Kell Brook [last week]. It looks like he will return in early March at the Sheffield Arena at 154lbs."
(c) Sky News 2017: Amir Khan vs Kell Brook ‘still huge’ despite reality TV hiatus, says Eddie Hearn
