Amir Khan says he intentionally didn’t combat Kell Brook years in the past to ‘harm him’ and ‘educate him a lesson’, however insists long-awaited conflict might occur now

Amir Khan has listed the explanation why he by no means fought Kell Brook of their primes.

After Brook gained his IBF welterweight title in 2014, he stepped up his requires a showdown with established champion Khan.

Brook had travelled to the US to dethrone Shawn Porter for the belt, but it surely was Khan who was already a far larger title each within the UK and Stateside.

In 2015 and 2016, discuss of a gathering between them intensified, however the bout by no means got here to fruition and nonetheless hasn’t to at the present time.

Khan defined on the Final Stand Podcast: “The rationale me and Brook by no means occurred after we had been each champions was as a result of I used to be campaigning extra in America.

“It’s most likely probably the greatest strikes I ever made in my profession – to go to America. It gave me a worldwide stance, it made me a worldwide title.

“When Kell needed that combat, I knew it was solely gonna be a giant combat within the UK.

“So I believed, ‘Okay tremendous, we’ll do it, however not simply but.’ I used to be chasing the Floyd Mayweathers and Manny Pacquiaos.

“And in addition, I used to be making more cash in America to be sincere with you, that’s why.

“It’s a enterprise a the tip of the day. In order that’s a cause the combat didn’t occur.

“Plus on the similar time, with all of the unfavorable issues he was saying, the badmouthing he was doing, I kinda needed to show him a lesson a bit as effectively.

“He wanted me greater than I wanted him, in order that’s one of many causes as effectively.

“When somebody’s gonna discuss a lot trash, you’re gonna attempt to educate them a lesson. You wanna harm them in that approach.

“The way in which I believed would harm him can be by not combating him.”

Requested whether or not he believes individuals nonetheless need to see that combat now, Khan mentioned: “Yeah, positively.

“We’re each British and Kell all the time runs his mouth – I believe lots of people wanna see me simply shut his mouth up.

“He’s all the time mentioned he has the type to beat me and my pace of hand is just not there anymore.

“He’s all the time acquired one thing to say, so I believed, ‘You realize what? Possibly it’s time to sort of put this man in his place.’

“One factor in regards to the UK followers, they’d like to tune in.

“With this combat, we’ve acquired massive fanbases. When there’s drama concerned and there’s a little bit of a narrative behind it, it’s solely gonna promote even larger.”