Pride on the line: Amir Khan versus Kell Brook February 19

Amir Khan and Kell Brook have been feuding for 15 years. According to most, they generally dislike each other. They’ll settle their differences in the ring this Saturday night at Manchester Arena in London, Eng.

It’s personal.

“I’m just going to go in there and hurt Kell,” Khan told Sky Sports last week. “That’s what I want to do. I don’t want to go in there and just box him, I want to go in there to hurt him and to put him away. This is the time now where I finish his career off, so he never needs to look at boxing again. This is going to be a nice payday for you, Kell Brook, so you get this payday and walk away. Leave the sport happy.”

Brook countered.

”It’s a long time coming for me, you’ll see,” said Brook. “He gets destroyed; he gets beat like I’ve been telling you for years. “He’s never wanted this fight, it’s me that wanted this fight for the fans. “He’s always had it his way, he’s not having it his own way.”

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Of the two, Khan has been more inactive. His last fight was over two-and-a-half years ago against the much smaller and faded Billy Dibb. Khan stopped Dibb in four rounds.

Brook’s last go was against one of the best fighters in the world, WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford. Brook started well, using his speed and jab to outbox Crawford. The champ, though, is one patient dude. He dissects opponents. A big right hand turned the fight in Crawford’s favor. Crawford pounced and punched until referee Tony Weeks called the fight off.

Not the best way to go out, but Brook seemed contrite. His career record stood at 39-3, 27 KOs. It had taken him 33 fights to get a crack at welterweight champion, Shawn Porter, in 2014. Brook won the belt by majority decision.

Khan rebounded from shocking loss to win title

Khan had rebounded from being knocked out to capture the WBA junior welterweight championship. He defended his strap five times before being knocked into tomorrow land by Danny Garcia in 2012.

Brook and Khan have something else in common. They both moved up a weight division. And lost. Khan was knocked flat out by middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez. Brook met Gennady Golovkin, and like Khan, did pretty well for a few rounds until Golovkin damaged his eye socket. Consistent punishment made it worse. The bout was stopped after round five. Khan’s record stands at 34-5, 21 KOs.

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Khan stayed away from the ring for two years following his brutal loss to Alvarez. Brook’s name popped up again. The fighters insulted each other. Khan returned against fringe contenders, Phil Lo Greco, and Samuel Vargas. Victorious, he met Crawford, at Madison Square Garden in 2018. Khan was floored in the opening round and consistently outworked. An accidental low-blow gave him some time in round six. Not enough. The fight was stopped. Heavy criticism followed.

Brook returned to welterweight to fight champion Errol Spence Jr. in London. Spence entered the fight undefeated. He exited the same way, and the new champion, stopping Brook in 11 competitive rounds.

Both fighters are 35 and obviously past their primes.

Basically a 50-50 fight

Oddsmakers have installed Brook as a slight favorite.

Check out the latest odds here

I see a spirited fight. Pride, a great motivator,  is on the line. Khan is faster, but Brook is stronger. A factor in the outcome could come down to who’s fresher. If Brook wins, it will likely be by knockout. Khan has been stopped four times in his 39-fight career.

I give the edge to Brook but won’t be surprised if Khan wins.