Battle of Brits: Amir Khan Is More Deserving Than Kell Brook to Get a Shot at the Welterweight King After May 2 Megafight

In the aftermath of Brook's win he did what most Brits wanted and called out Amir Khan for a showdown on British soil in June, a fight that would like see a crowd fill a packed Wembley Stadium.
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Six months ago British welterweight boxer Kell Brook won the IBF world title from a solid, yet relatively untested Shaun Porter in a showdown at the StubHub Center in Carson, California - where he won with a sharp and sensational performance.

Shortly after his win Brook was celebrating in Tenerife where he was left in a critical state after being stabbed in an unprovoked attack with a machete to his left leg.

Things were looking bleak as the Sheffield fighter's vision of unifying the packed welterweight division seemed all but chronically shattered - unsure whether or not he'd compete again.

But Brook is a fighter, and fighters often defy odds of recovery dished out by doctors and specialists.

Last week after a sixth month recovery Brook defended his title for the first time since the attack, where he made light work of Romanian born but Canada-based Jo Jo Dan - who he knocked down four times on his way to a demolition-style fourth round stoppage win.

While the bookies didn't give Dan much chance of winning, some were offering crazy odds of for Brook to halt Dan in the fourth round. Frustratingly, I predicted a Brook fifth round win, and put a fiver on through Gambling Deals, who give 20% back on losing bets - so that was a small consolation.

Dan is a decent boxer, but would seldom survive long against any of the world-level welterweights or even be employed as a serious sparring partner. So while it was good to see Brook has recovered well from his leg injury - it's no measure of what lies ahead for IBF titleholder against the elites of the division.

In the aftermath of Brook's win he did what most Brits wanted and called out Amir Khan for a showdown on British soil in June, a fight that would like see a crowd fill a packed Wembley Stadium.

Khan cannot fight in June, as the Bolton man follows Ramadan, which is well documented.

Both Khan and Brook are keen to fight the winner of the megafight on May 2, where Manny Pacquiao - Floyd Mayweather will touch gloves in an event that will decide and define this generation's greatest boxer.

Any knowledgeable fight fan knows that Khan is the more deserving fighter of the two for a shot at the winner of this megafight; and though Khan has been beaten before; he has looked mature and elite in his last couple of performances.

Khan has also boxed against much higher opposition than Brook, and operated at world level for a much longer period.

The Bolton man stated this week that his next opponent will be American Chris Algieri, a former light-welterweight world champion and Pacquiao's last opponent, in a fight Algieri was knocked down six times on his way to a lopsided points loss.

It is a brilliant tactical move by Khan and his team, and should he do what Pacquiao couldn't and halt Algieri before the final bell - as we can expect - it will send out a statement to either Pacquiao or Mayweather after their showdown this summer.

Meanwhile, rumours are circulating on Brook's next move, and we'll likely see him square off with veteran counterpuncher Juan Manuel Marquez, who would be a tough test for the Sheffield fighter, despite 41-year-old Marquez being inactive for almost twelve months.

Ideally Khan and Brook would fight each other this summer, with the rightful winner heading towards a huge payday with the victor of Pacquiao - Mayweather, so both fighters' next moves are crucial.

Many believe Khan's speed, work rate, and aggression could prove the antidote to both Pacquiao and Mayweather, but Khan doesn't hold a title and Brook does.

If Brook gets through his next opponent unscathed, he could land the much-sought opportunity, but undoubtedly the more deserving British fighter is Khan.