By Gav Duthie: The night is nearly over and the nightclub is closing. Your desperate to get some company for the evening and there aren’t many options left. The girl you’ve been avoiding all evening now starts to look appealing. Amir Khan finds himself in this situation selecting his next opponent. He has nowhere to go after the Canelo defeat and the 4th loss of his career. He realises nobody else will make him anymore money, respect or credibility than Kell Brook. Brook is like the kid in the sweet shop when he is allowed whatever he wants. He has craved nothing more than to fight Khan for years.
Despite that burning desire to end Khan’s career I think he should fight his IBF mandatory challenger Errol Spence Jnr. Here’s 3 reasons why:
Spence is Brook
Kell Brook knows what its like to be the most avoided man in the division. When he finally won his world title outpointing Shawn Porter his immediate reaction was to call out Keith Thurman. He respected Thurman because people were avoiding him and Brook knew how it felt to never get an opportunity. Brook was the mandatory challenger for the IBF for two years before he got his shot. Injuries postponed a fight with Devon Alexander 3 times and then Alexander fought Porter. Even Porter took a voluntary against Paulie Maliggnaggi before finally facing Brook. Kell waited so long for his shot I would be surprised if he would make Errol Spence Jnr do the same. The American has only been mandatory since early summer but Brook could have fought him instead of Golovkin. Understandably the Golovkin opportunity was huge and so would Amir Khan but how long can he make Spence wait.
Stick to your word Hearn
Eddie Hearn repeatedly defended Brooks fights against Jo Jo Dan and Kevin Bizier saying there were his mandatory challengers and he wanted to keep his title. Fair enough but the same logic applies here. The IBF have finally installed a worthy mandatory in Errol Spence Jnr and now Hearn is talking 154lb fights or Amir Khan. Of course Khan is worth lots more cash for Matchroom and Kell Brook and they are going to pursue it but it makes Brook’s fights against Dan, Frankie Gavin and Bizier a bit of a joke. If they do opt to go down the Khan route then they are likely to have to give up the IBF title. Its only fair that they decide quickly so that Spence can fight for it. If they feel they can defend the title against Amir Khan then they are looking to have their cake and eat it.
Take the risk
Obviously fighting Golovkin was a huge risk, a much bigger one than fighting Spence. The difference is that he had nothing to lose against Golovkin. Sometimes its easier in life to take a challenge like that, the David v Goliath rather than a risk like Spence. A genuine 50/50 fight against an opponent who can spoil the party. The 2012 Olympian is a legitimate risk to his title and Brooks future opportunities against Khan and unification bouts against Danny Garcia, Manny Pacquiao and Keith Thurman. Spence is making a name for himself after stopping Chris Algieri (Pacquiao and Khan failed to do so) and Chris Van Heerden. Spence is likely to become a world champion but will it be Brook who gives him the chance.
In an ideal world I would love Brook to pick Spence first. He deserves the shot and if Brook beats him then he could fight Khan later in the year. It would be an added bonus to make Khan wait for a bit, both of them probably need other fights first anyway to get used to the welterweight division again.