• Welterweight

Hearn to Khan: Forget Floyd, fight Kell instead

Eddie Hearn claims Kell Brook is on the verge of a world title shot © Frank Coppi

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WBA and IBF light-welterweight champion Amir Khan has no chance of securing a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jnr and so should consider taking on Kell Brook, according to Brook's promoter Eddie Hearn.

Mayweather is keen to fight on May 5, and Khan's chances of being the opponent were boosted when Manny Pacquiao laboured past Juan Manuel Marquez at the weekend, making a rematch look highly likely.

Pacquiao had been expected to face Mayweather, but now the door has been opened for Khan, who intends to step into the welterweight division next year. However, Hearn says Khan is being unrealistic if he expects Mayweather to be keen on the idea.

Instead, he says unbeaten Brit Brook is a more worthy opponent. The pair have already discussed a fight openly when insulting each other over Twitter earlier this year - and Hearn thinks it could be a classic.

"If Khan wants a big fight and a big fight in Britain, then who better than against the new superstar in that division, Kell Brook?" said Hearn to the Mirror. "We've seen him [Khan] wobbled at lightweight and at light-welterweight, so is he ready for a fast, big puncher, where you don't know where the punches are coming from, at welterweight? That's the question and we would find the answer against Kell.

"Anyway, I don't think Amir Khan is anywhere near a fight with Mayweather and I'm not sure Mayweather would really look at that fight."

Meanwhile, Hearn says that Brook is on the brink of securing a world title shot, whether against Khan or not. Andre Berto recently vacated the IBF title, which presents an opportunity to Brook, while WBA king Viacheslav Senchenko is a possible fight; it is hard to envisage Brook meeting Mayweather, the WBC champion, or Pacquiao, the WBO champion.

"We're in discussions with three separate people about world title fights; one we're very close to securing for the spring," Hearn said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.