Ezekiel Brook vs. Amir Iqbal Khan

Perhaps the most hoped-for, teased, and excruciatingly protracted British grudge match since Hatton vs. Witter, clamored for since 2011 (when the first overtures were made of Khan moving up to welterweight), is set to finally happen in December. Provisos: the now 31 year old (could be 32 come fight night) Lanc must come out victorious in a tuneup in late August, while the Yorkie (who celebrated his own 32nd birthday last month) has a can't-lose date lined up on July 28th versus either Jarrett Hurd, or, more realistically, Gabriel Rosado.

Likely nearer the beginning of the month, given the annual steep drop-off in casual interest for sport in general & boxing in particular, at least outside Japan, nearer the holiday season (with candidate Saturdays including the 1st, 8th, and 15th). Venue is almost certain to be Principality Stadium. The most valuable prize conceivably on the line - unless Hearn does indeed make the summer tuneup fight with Hurd, a potentially catastrophic risk but would net Brook a triplet of unified world title belts - is the WBC Silver 154lb strap Brook captured from Rabchenko. Khan is currently empty-handed and not even ranked at super welter, and unlikely to bag any hardware straightaway in his tuneup.

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At 150lbs though it doesn't get to be a 12-rounder, or at least it shouldn't. Catchweights by definition have no titles or mandatory positions at stake and therefore ought to be capped at 10 rounds.

 

Yeah, all those hard rounds they logged against Lo Greco and Rabchenko..

 

Yeah, personally don't feel the 7lbs (or anywhere in between) makes a damn bit of difference as far as the outcome is concerned.

 

Have a feeling I'm going to enjoy watching the replay of the conclusion of this over and over to get into the Christmas spirit.

 

8-1 (7) in favor of Brook so far.

 

BoyleSports have Brook installed already as a 3/4 favorite.

 

Khan's supposed to fight late August, that gives him about 3.5 months in between if they were to have this on December 8th or 15th.

The fight with Lo Greco hardly counts, the ring walks took up more time.