Amir Khan has openly admitted he is battling injuries and niggles in camp for his all-British grudge match with Kell Brook. The two former welterweight world champions finally collide in Manchester on February 19 at a catchweight, 10 years after the bout was initially mooted.
While there is an acceptance that both fighters are now well beyond their prime, the two are prepared to renew old rivalries for one last dance.
The duo have been involved in various spats and war of words over the past decade but now British boxing fans will finally get to see them trade leather next month.
While injury concerns and niggles are part and parcel of every training camp, Khan has conceded that he’s having to put himself through the pain barrier now that he is 35.
“We all have injuries, sportsmen and women,” he told Sky Sports from his camp in Colorado.
“When you’re at the elite level, we always have to overcome them pains and override them.
“Yeah I’ve got pains and I’ve got injuries when I’m in training.
“I’ve had to spar today and I still have to overcome them injuries, I can’t think of them I’ve just got to get on with them.
“My job is just to get ready for Feb 19 and obviously the aches and pains are there.
“As you get older – I’m 35 now – it’s not like when you’re 25 where you recover after a tough session.
“Now the body takes a bit of time but it’s good because I know if I continue pushing myself with those pains and aches, then I’ll be fine come fight night.”
Khan was last in action back in the Sumer fo 2019 when he stopped Billy Dib in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The victory came less than three months after he was stopped by pound-for-pound great Terence Crawford in New York.
After the defeat, Khan conceded that he’d suffered an elbow injury during camp that affected his performance.
It’s not the first time Khan has experienced complications either, back in 2016 he sensationally claimed he’s been fighting with a broken hand for the past 13 years.
Brook’s last outing came over a year ago when he was also defeated by WBO welterweight champion Crawford in Las Vegas.
Special K has lost just three of his 42 professional bouts having also suffered defeats to Errol Spence Jr and Gennady Golovkin.
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