Why Amir Khan Won't be Fighting Kell Brook

Both fighters have bigger goals in their sites. And for that reason, it would make more sense for both to pursue their own career. Currently, nether Khan nor Brook needs this fight, but in 12 months time, if all goes to plan, then the hype will be justified.

As Kell Brook took in his latest victory over Rafal Jackiewicz, the Sheffield boxer's promoter, Eddie Hearn, was in no doubt who his fighter was gunning for next. "Kell against Amir Khan is a fight this country must see in 2012," he said, basking in the glow of Brook's stylish victory.

Hearn is not the only one who wants a Brook-Khan matchup. It's a fight British boxing fans would flock to and, for Sky, likely to earn a decent amount of cash at the box office.

But there's also very good reasons why this fight is not quite right for either boxer when Khan, the IBF and WBA Super world light welterweight champion, moves up a division.

For Khan, the fight would be high risk and low reward. Many would assume the Bolton fighter has the game to see off British boxing's newest rising star, but anybody who watched Brook's demolition of Jackiewicz on Saturday night will know this is a very dangerous, confident fighter who looks likely to only get better.

Jackiewicz is no mug. The 34-year-old Pole had, until Saturday, never been stopped in his 48-fight professional career. In his 49th fight, he barely landed a punch of note during the six rounds he lasted before referee Howard Foster stepped in to stop the fight.

Jackiewicz, who had held a European title and beaten Jan Zavek in his career, was made to look like a journeyman, as Brook unleashed his impressive jab from the off, before targeting the body and following up with some speedy combinations. It was a ruthless masterclass from a young, hungry fighter.

Yet despite the war of words between Brook and Khan, the 25-year-old, nicknamed Special K, would also be cautioned against leaping into the ring with the younger, more established star, especially when he has a realistic shot at challenging for the world title in an incredibly tough welterweight division.

Brook, for all his undoubted talent, has still to prove himself against a truly top fighter, even if Jackiewicz represented a step up in class. Lose to Khan and many of those he wishes to topple may decide they have nothing to prove by taking him on.

And the list of potential opponents for the Sheffield fighter are equally as mouthwatering as a clash with Amir Khan.

Undefeated Vyacheslav Senchenko would be the most obvious fight, in a mandatory defence of the WBA title for the Ukrainian, and would undoubtedly test Brook more than any other opponent thus far.

And then things start to get interesting. Would Andre Berto or Victor Ortiz be willing to step into the ring with the British fighter? Berto especially is unlikely to leave America to fight, but the States is a natural progression for Brook. Ortiz would be mouthwatering, but Brook would seriously need to up his game. Neither are beyond the realms of possibility.

His next fight, though, looks likely to be what Hearn has dubbed a "welcome to America" fight on the undercard of Carl Froch's super-middleweight unification clash with Andre Ward. Impress Stateside and promoters will smell money.

As for Khan, it's far more likely his next bout will be against Matthew Hatton, after his last 140lbs fight against Lamont Peterson in December. Khan's ultimate goal will be to gun for Floyd Mayweather.

Both fighters have bigger goals in their sights. And for that reason, it would make more sense for both to pursue their own career. Currently, nether Khan nor Brook needs this fight, but in 12 months time, if all goes to plan, then the hype will be justified.

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