This Saturday from the Manchester Arena in England, Kell Brook and Amir Khan clash in a long-awaited battle. The real disappointment here is that Brandon Rios and Victor Ortiz will not be the co-feature on this card that will be broadcast on ESPN+.
In all seriousness, Brook-Khan, while still a highly anticipated bout given the years long animosity between the two rivals (and only in boxing can you have 'rivals' who have never faced one another in the field of play), is one that should've taken place years ago
But while this contest in many ways is overcooked it's still an appetizing one for UK fans, because quite frankly, this sport has set low standards that appease it's followers. (At this rate, Errol Spence and Terence Crawford will hook up around 2028, or so).
At one point in time both Brook and Khan were elite prizefighters. Now, they are just shells of their former selves. To their credit, they have both had productive and lucrative careers as they circled one another and hurled insults at one another.
It's apparent that there was no expiration date on this fight given the buzz it's created. The reality is that it's long past it's best-by-date. In a perfect world -- which certainly doesn't exist in boxing -- they would've met around 2014 or 2015.
It was in 2014 when 'Special K' Brook captured the IBF welterweight title by traveling to the States and out-pointing Shawn Porter. Before the likes of Errol Spence, Keith Thurman and Terence Crawford eventually became champions at 147, there was a time where you could argue that it was Brook who was the worlds best welter.
The problem is that his title run consisted of the trio of Jo Jo Dan, Frankie Gavin and Kevin Bizier. It was such a nondescript reign that he felt compelled to face middleweight monster, Gennadiy Golovkin, in an ill-fated gambit in 2016 that saw him not only get stopped in six rounds, but get his right eye socket fractured. His next bout, he moved back down to welterweight, and had his title taken from him in the late rounds by Spence, where the other side of his face was broken.
He's never ever been quite the same again,
As for Khan, during 2014-15, he had overcome a few losses and put together a run where he soundly defeated Luis Collazo, Devon Alexander and Chris Algieri in welterweight contests. But instead of facing Brook in what would've been a highly anticipated title shot, he took on the assignment of facing Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez in a bout that had a 155-pound catch-weight.
Khan, who's punch resistance was that of a vase dropped from a 10 story building, was predictably knocked out cold from a booming right hand in the sixth round.
Now the two meet at age 35 with all other options exhausted. It's akin to two of the best looking girls in high-school who didn't particularly like one another, looking to be the hottest MILF at the 20 year high school reunion after they have both gone through divorces.
Rivals then and now.
Hey, better late than never for Brook and Khan.
SATURDAY FIGHTS
There's a full schedule of bouts from across the globe this weekend. The well-traveled Jorge Linares, coming off his loss to Devin Haney, faces Zaur Abdullaev in Russia. Linares is ranked third by the WBC, with Abdullaev right behind him at four. The winner should be in line to eventually fight for their lightweight title once that quagmire clears up. Currently, George Kambosos is their 'franchise' champion, with Devin Haney their regular belt-holder.
This card from Ekaterinburg will be streamed on Saturday morning on ESPN+ at 9:30 am ET/6:30 am PT.
Later that night on DAZN from the Plaza Monumental in Tijuana, Mexico, Jaime Munguia faces D'Mitrius Ballard, in a middleweight contest. On the surface, this looks like a decent match-up, pitting two undefeated boxers from the Golden Boy Promotions stable.
Kevin Estrada/Golden Boy Promotions
According to @Fight_Ghost(a good Twitter follow) the odds on this bout opened at 10-1 in favor of Munguia, which was then immediately bet up to 15-1. For Munguia, who is rated number one at 160 by both the WBC and WBO, this is a step back for him in terms of competition. Back in November, Munguia put forth a strong effort in scoring a decisive 12 round decision against the seasoned Gabe Rosado.
This here is nothing more than a showcase bout for Munguia in his hometown.
BOO BOO FREE
A few eyebrows were raised recently when Sampson Lewkowicz, who handles the career of former two-time super middleweight champion, David Benavidez, told 'Tha Boxing Voice' that they would need much more than $7 million to face Demetrius Andrade, but would take less to face Canelo.
Yeah, so they high-balled Andrade, while low-balling themselves for Alvarez. That's a new one.
DAZN/Matchroom Sports
Seriously 'Boo Boo' Andrade truly is the boogeyman of boxing.
I believe 'Reaper Gang Radio' (whose stuff I enjoy on a regular basis on YouTube) spoke for a lot of fans and followers of the sport with this reaction video:
DAVID BENAVIDEZ & SAM LEWKOWICZ NEED BIG MONEY 4 BIG RISK ANDRADE WTF
3KR
On this week episode of 'the 3 Knockdown Rule' on Triller with Mario Lopez and I, we had manager, Egis Klimas in-studio, who gave us a detailed update on the futures of Oleksandr Usyk, Vasiliy Lomachenko, and the rest of his talented roster of boxers:
Mario & Steve talk about Canelo & GGG 3 fights on DAZN | The 3 Knockdown Rule Ep. 19 | TrillerTV
FINAL FLURRIES
There is a ShoBox telecast this Friday evening from Orlando, Florida. The main event has Jamaine Ortiz facing Nahir Albright in a 10 round lightweight contest....On that card in Tijuana on Saturday is the always fan-friendly, William Zepeda....It's being reported that the IBF has ordered a purse bid for a bout between welterweights, Jaron Ennis, and Custio Clayton.....Has Logan Paul been paid yet by Floyd Mayweather?...I can be reached at k9kim@yahoo.com.
