Amir Khan vs Kell Brook: Predictions, Odds and Results
Pintsized Background
A grudge match that has been brewing for well over a decade, Amir Khan vs Kell Brook is a poor man’s Mayweather vs Pacquiao. Matured well past the expiry date, Khan and Brook will carry a lifetime of scars into the ring on Saturday night. The real money question is whether either thirty-five year old has anything left in the tank to dig into? Otherwise, this could be a sad PPV for all involved.
Where/When is Khan vs Brook taking place:
February 19, 2022. A0 Arena. Manchester, England.
What time does Khan vs Brook start:
🇬🇧 UK: 6pm / 🇺🇸 US ET: 1pm
What channel is Khan vs Brook on:
🇬🇧 UK: Sky Sports / 🇺🇸 US: ESPN+
Pintsized content from the week before:
Preview: Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Williams: Predictions, Odds and Results
Statistics: Boxing Predictions Results: December 2021
PI’s Recommended Fight: Steve Robinson vs Shane Gill.
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Amir Khan vs Kell Brook: Main Event
Amir Khan vs Kell Brook
Welterweight (147)
Amir Khan (34-5, 21KO)
Forever disrespected as the ‘glass chin’ of British boxing, casual fans are often fast to forget the ridiculous list of names that Amir Khan has faced off against. Marcos Maidana, Danny Garcia, Canelo and Terence Crawford were all fought close to or during their prime. Sure, Khan was stopped by the latter three, but he took his fair share of rounds off Garcia and Alvarez.
Worryingly, Khan looked several paces behind Terence Crawford when they fought in the MSG in early 2019. With only a fourth-round TKO over Billy Dib since, Khan has been vacant from the boxing ring for almost three years. Not that Khan will have made any adjustments to his style, the Bolton fighter has never strayed once from his preferred approach – much to his detriment.
Amir Khan is best known for his blistering hand speed and lightning-fast combinations that overwhelm opponents. On the outside, Khan’s head movement is surprisingly slick, but it is his sloppy footwork and vulnerability in the pocket that often lands him in trouble. Footwork-wise, Khan jumps into his combinations in a straight line and can find himself tripping over his feet to catch opponents who move laterally. In the pocket, Khan’s high volume comes at the price of a naked chin.
Kell Brook (39-3, 27KO)
Special K has gunned for the Amir Khan fight since man was born. The Sheffield fighter criminally spent much of his prime making questionable defences of his IBF Welterweight title (Ionut Dan Ion, Frankie Gavin and Kevin Bizier). Still, Brook more than made up for it by taking on one of boxing’s most ducked fighters, Gennadiy Golovkin, and then fearsome prospect, Erol Spence Jr. While both fights would leave Brook with permanent eye damage to each eye socket, even in defeat, Brook proved his ability far more than any of his successful title defences.
After starching Sergey Rabchenko, there was a belief that Kell Brook could rebuild through 2018 and work his way back towards a chance at reclaiming his belt from Spence Jr. A dull yet uncomfortably close scrap with the limited Michael Zerafa highlighted issues with Brook’s new camp. Even after a return back to the Ingle gym, Brook’s career at the top of the sport was confirmed as finished after a brutal fourth-round stoppage to Terence Crawford.
Yet, Brook’s performance against Crawford drew far more positives than Khan’s failed trip to America. Patiently trading jabs with Crawford, Brook kept his combinations short and limited his time at the mid-range. There was a clear approach in the game plan that changed Brook’s style. Greater activity with straight shots aimed to mask the drop in reaction speed and hard counters that made Brook so lethal in his prime.
Predicted Result: Brook TKO Round 8
Which fighter’s punch resistance has dropped the most drastically? Can Kell Brook keep a lid on his emotions in what is obviously a ‘career defining’ fight? Has Amir Khan only accepted the fight for one last payday? Does a paper chin beat two glass eye sockets?
There are many intriguing questions before the long-awaited grudge match kicks off on Saturday. Both fighters are a couple of marks off their prime, with their performances against a shared opponent, Terence Crawford, offering the best insight into their scheduled match-up. Khan made no adjustments to his approach, continuing to employ his preferred jumping entries and blisteringly long combinations. Brook, however, attempted to keep himself busy on the outside with straight shots rather than the powerful reactive counter-punching of his prime. Neither man was successful, but Brook at least made a clear attempt to adapt to his declining physical attributes.
There is a real possibility that Khan flies out of the blocks and breaks Brook early under overwhelming pressure. The Sheffield fighter doesn’t ooze the same confidence on the back-foot, eating a surprising number of shots against Mark DeLuca, considering Brook looked untouchable at times against Shawn Porter. Regardless, Khan has not fought for three years. Perhaps Khan will experience a chin renaissance with such a long lay-off, more likely, however, Brook wins an ugly and controversial affair that leaves nobody satisfied.
Result: Brook def. Khan // TKO Round 6 0:51
Winner ✔️ // Method ✔️ // Round ❌
Amir Khan vs Kell Brook: Co-Main Event
Natasha Jonas vs Chris Namus
Super Welterweight (154)
vacant WBO World Female Super Welterweight Title
Natasha Jonas (10-2-1, 7KO)
There exists a surprisingly large fanbase for Natasha Jonas, yet the best performance in her professional career was a close-knit decision loss to a fading Katie Taylor. The thirty-seven-year-old Liverpudlian is hell-bent on securing a world title, and Chris Namus offers the lowest-hanging fruit to achieve such a goal. Technically sharp, Jonas is efficient with her energy and keeps herself secure behind a high guard during frequent periods of inactivity. Surprisingly heavy-handed for Women’s Welterweight, Jonas often hurts opponents with the lead hook to the body as a counter to the jab. As a southpaw, it regularly catches opponents unaware and stalls incoming combinations.
Chris Namus (25-6, 8KO)
Chris Namus’ claim to fame is taking Cecilia Braekhus to the final bell. Granted, Namus was once the IBF Super Welterweight champ, but the path to the title was littered with less than stellar opposition. Namus is an uncultured fighter, ploughing forward aggressively with static 3-4 punch combinations. Namus doesn’t seem to tire much into the championship rounds – a worrying sign for Jonas. The Brit was overwhelmed by Viviane Obenauf back in 2018, and while Jonas evidenced a newfound grit against Terri Harper and Katie Taylor, she could find the rounds melting away to the more active Namus.
Predicted Result: Jonas Decision
Not a confident pick at all, but I’m favouring Natasha Jonas to get the nod with a hometown decision based on ‘cleaner work’. Namus is an uncultured fighter, ploughing forward aggressively with static 3-4 punch combinations. Worryingly for Jonas, Namus doesn’t tire much by the championship rounds, and at any point in the contest, the scars from Viviana Obenauf could plague the Brit. Namus’ trouble dealing with Marie Eve Decarie’s southpaw jab, however, is a bright sign for Jonas fans.
Result: Jonas def. Namus // TKO Round 2 0:28
Winner ✔️ // Method ❌ // Round ❌
Amir Khan vs Kell Brook: Rest of the Card
Charlie Schofield vs Germaine Brown
Super Middleweight (168)
English Super Middleweight Title
Charlie Schofield (17-1, 1KO)
Got to love a Lancashire fighter, a bit of northern pride. Eight years into his professional career, Schofield has stepped up from stat-padding just twice. A razor-close decision loss to Mickey Ellison in 2019 paved the way for a rematch that saw Schofield dramatically claim the English title. Ellison caused Schofield’s fits of trouble during the early rounds, yet the gas tank wasn’t at a level to keep up by the mid-point. Whether Schofield can survive late enough to cause Germaine Brown trouble is another question? The tall, rangy striker isn’t commanding enough with the jab to maintain the distance – but there is a natural fluidity to the combinations that indicate Schofield could do well in a larger weight class if he is unsuccessful on Saturday.
Germaine Brown (11-0, 3KO)
Germaine Brown shocked the odds when he travelled over to Minsk to defeat Dmitrii Chudinov on points in just his ninth fight. Granted, Chudinov was on a five-fight slide, but it remains a wildly impressive scalp for such an inexperienced professional. Brown looked far more domestic against Jamal Le Doux, dragging the pair into a gruelling war on the inside and leaving it to a shockingly favourable scorecard. Early aggression against Schofield is guaranteed rounds under his belt, while Brown’s penchant for bodywork appears to be Schofield’s kryptonite. Brown can smother his work in the search for a finish, while Schofield should have enough hours in the ring to survive early adversity.
Predicted Result: Brown Decision
Can Schofield survive early troubles to pull ahead in the championship rounds? Schofield found himself in fits of troubles against Mickey Ellison twice in the opening stages of their fight, while Germaine Brown loves to apply heavy early pressure. Schofield’s towering presence could be an issue if he ever learned how to command distance with his jab, but up until now, there has been little evidence of it. Brown’s penchant for bodywork should eventually wear Schofield down in an ugly, domestic affair.
Result: Brown def. Schofield // Decision (UD – 98-92, 99-92, 99-92)
Winner ✔️ // Method ✔️ // Round ✔️
Bradley Rea vs Craig McCarthy
Middleweight (160)
Bradley Rea (11-0, 4KO)
Coming off of victories over Lee Cutler and Jez Smith, there is a growing belief that Bradley Rea could be Britain’s next Middleweight prospect. A huge frame to grow into over the coming years, Rea has already impressed with his mature style. A wonderful driving jab starts every combination for Rea, but it is the hook off of the jab that creates the most trouble for opponents. Jez Smith is a difficult man to knockdown, but Rea’s looping lead to the body dropped Smith in the opening round. Sharp adjustments on the feet, driving uppercuts to split an opponent’s high guard before hooking openings to the chin, also justify the hype behind Rea.
Craig McCarthy (8-0-1, 2KO)
Thirty-four-year-old Irishman, Craig McCarthy, represents a reasonable test for Rea. As a southpaw, McCarthy could cause an issue with his long reach. While the Irishman does tend to telegraph his overhand left throughout fights, an extended lead hand creates a barrier that Rea will have to work on overcoming. McCarthy looks lost on the inside, and while Rea is likely a class above on the outside anyway, it would be pleasing to see Rea work the body up close.
Predicted Result: Rea TKO Round 6
Thirty-four-year-old Irishman, Craig McCarthy, represents a reasonable test for Rea. McCarthy’s extended lead hand will create a barrier that Rea will have to work on overcoming. Still, Rea is one of Britain’s hot prospects for a reason. Sharp adjustments on the feet, a large frame to grow into, and a wonderful driving jab all suggest that Rea is a cut above the domestic fodder.
Result: Rea def. McCarthy // TKO Round 1 1:53
Winner ✔️ // Method ✔️ // Round ❌
Viddal Riley vs Willbeforce Shihepo
Cruiserweight (200)
Viddal Riley (4-0, 2KO)
Boxer turned YouTuber turned boxer, Viddal Riley, finally seems ready to commit to his professional boxing career. Riley’s level is yet to be seen, it is difficult to gauge a fighter who has fought cans over four years. The evidence of Riley on the front foot suggests a decently schooled prospect, calmly probing with short combinations. Importantly, Riley limits the risks he takes, remaining defensively aware during combinations.
Willbeforce Shihepo (25-13, 18KO)
Namibian, Willbeforce Shihepo, has endured a long travelling career. Going nine rounds with Callum Johnson and eight with Aleksei Papin are decent accolades for a thirty-nine-year-old, but the best years are well and truly beyond Shihepo. Shihepo looked like he was fighting at 0.5x speed last time out against David Gladun, with Riley’s speed differential set to prevent the Namibian from closing the distance. Riley is taking a risk against an experienced, heavy-handed foe, but the Brit’s defensively sound style is designed to irritate Shihepo throughout.
Predicted Result: Riley TKO Round 5
Shihepo looked like he was fighting at 0.5x speed last time out against David Gladun, with Riley’s speed differential set to prevent the Namibian from closing the distance. Riley’s level is yet to be seen, it is difficult to gauge a fighter who has fought cans over four years. Importantly, Riley limits the risks he takes, consistently keeping an eye on his positioning during and after combinations. Shihepo’s heavy hands should not land on Riley in a lopsided affair.
Result: Riley def. Shihepo // Decision (ref’s scorecard – 60-53)
Winner ✔️ // Method ❌ // Round ❌
Adam Azim vs Jordan Ellison
Lightweight (135)
Adam Azim (2-0, 1KO)
Just nineteen years of age, Adam Azim is adamant he will carry on Khan’s legacy as a legendary British-Pakistani boxer. There are several reasons to agree with Azim. Fighting with a swagger reserved for far more experienced operators, Azim can capably keep opponents on the back of his jab. A slick back-foot operator, Azim uses his lead hand to work opponents onto his powerful right hand. Lovely use of the shoulder up close also suggests a grit that will aid his rise up the ranks.
Jordan Ellison (13-35-2, 1KO)
Ellison is a tougher journeyman than most, regularly upsetting prospects. It was only four years ago that Sean Dodd fell to a six-round decision against Jordan Ellison. The Geordie has fought a long list of British prospects throughout his exhausting career, yet the twenty-six-year-old has struggled frequently with longer fighters. Ellison is a capable pressure fighter who will test Azim’s ability on the inside, but the nineteen-year-old should prove too elusive for Ellison to land anything significant.
Predicted Result: Azim Decision
Ellison is a tougher journeyman than most, regularly upsetting prospects. It was only four years ago that Sean Dodd fell to a six-round decision against Jordan Ellison. Azim, even at just nineteen years of age, should prove far too slick on the back-foot for Ellison to land anything significant. Lovely use of the shoulder up close also suggests a grit that will aid his rise up the ranks.
Result: Azim def. Ellison // TKO Round 3 2:09
Winner ✔️ // Method ❌ // Round ❌
Frazer Clarke vs Jake Darnell
Heavyweight (200+)
Frazer Clarke (DEBUT)
Former Olympian, Frazer Clarke, seems to have spent much of his best years sitting on the benches at Team GB. Regular training with elite heavyweights and coaches should see Clarke to a British title, but the tape isn’t glowing for his chances in the professional ranks. A deathly slow hand speed isn’t a career-ender, Joe Joyce is around world title contention, but there are too many question marks surrounding Clarke to get excited just yet.
Jake Darnell (DEBUT)
Bareknuckle boxer, Jake Darnell, makes his professional debut on Saturday. This looks to be a pretty disgusting mismatch, especially considering the disparity on the scales. Without any tape to review, Darnell’s chances are pretty slim.
Predicted Result: Clarke TKO Round 1
Former Olympian, Frazer Clarke, seems to have spent much of his best years sitting on the benches at Team GB. A deathly slow hand speed isn’t a career-ender, Joe Joyce is around world title contention, but there are too many question marks surrounding Clarke to get excited just yet. In regards to Jake Darnell, aside from an unlicensed fight, there isn’t much tape of the big lad. Expecting a painful yet swift finish.
Result: Clarke def. Darnell // TKO Round 1 2:06
Winner ✔️ // Method ✔️ // Round ✔️
Ibrahim Nadim vs Taka Bembere
Super Bantamweight (122)
Ibrahim Nadim (5-0)
A pointless step-back fight for Ibrahim Nadim who won’t learn anything on the night but might earn himself a couple more fans. The Yorkshire fighter is pretty sloppy at mid-range, eating more punishment than a prospect should from journeymen, but he is levels above Bembere.
Taka Bembere (1-22, 1KO)
Taka Bembere is a tough journeyman, but he offers very little in the way of offensive power. Backing himself onto the ropes, Bembere looks to survive aside from the occasional powerful single-shot counter. Sometimes it’s a loopy, telegraphed mess, sometimes it’s a surprisingly crisp straight down the pipe. Regardless, the activity is far too low for Bembere to realistically cash rounds.
Predicted Result: Nadim Decision
A pointless step-back fight for Ibrahim Nadim who won’t learn anything on the night but might earn himself a couple more fans. Taka Bembere is a tough journeyman, but he offers very little in the way of offensive power. Nadim does eat punishment at the mid-range, and he could be wobbled by one of Bembere’s looping overhands, but there isn’t enough volume from Bembere to truly threaten.
Result: Nadim def. Bembere // Decision (ref’s scorecard – 40-36)
Winner ✔️ // Method ✔️ // Round ✔️
Hassan Azim vs MJ Hall
Welterweight (147)
Hassan Azim (1-0, 1KO)
Big brother of Adam, Hassan Azim, is perhaps the dark horse of the family. While Adam gained all of the plaudits in the amateurs, Hassan is more likely to take a slow route in the professional ranks. A well-schooled amateur, Hassan doesn’t appear to be as natural a boxer as Adam, but there is a lot of time left for the pieces to fit together.
MJ Hall (2-73-2)
A classic British journeyman, Hall relies on his unnatural durability to earn a living. Offering almost nothing on the counter, Azim will be able to back Hall into the corner and pepper away with jabs. The likelihood of a finish is low and this won’t be entertaining viewing.
Predicted Result: Azim Decision
A well-schooled amateur, Hassan doesn’t appear to be as natural a boxer as brother, Adam, but there is a lot of time left for the pieces to fit together. Hall is a classic journeyman, relying on his unnatural durability to earn a living. Offering almost nothing on the counter, Azim will be able to back Hall into the corner and pepper away with jabs.
Result: Azim def. Hall // Decision (ref’s scorecard – 40-36)
Winner ✔️ // Method ✔️ // Round ✔️
Abdul Khan (2-0) vs Ricky Starkey (2-20-2)
Featherweight (126)
Abdul Khan (2-0)
Another nineteen-year-old prospect featuring on the undercard, Abdul Khan is Amir’s cousin and looks to fight with a similar style. Granted, Abdul lacks the freakish hand speed, but he also enjoys committing to extended combinations and neglecting his defence. At such a young age, however, and against such a calibre of opposition, Abdul is likely just eager to secure highlight reel footage against low-risk opposition.
Ricky Starkey (2-20-2)
Yet another journeyman on the card, Ricky Starkey at least attempts to make a fight. Granted, it has led to Starkey falling to nine knockout losses, but it also means that the prospects he faces are in far more entertaining, learning fights. Starkey’s static upright stance will be torn apart by Khan’s aggressive volume and clear athletic edge.
Predicted Result: Khan TKO Round 3
Yet another journeyman on the card, Ricky Starkey at least attempts to make a fight. Granted, it has led to Starkey falling to nine knockout losses, but it also means that the prospects he faces are in far more entertaining, learning fights. Abdul may lack cousin Amir’s lightning hand speed, but his aggressive combination style should force a referee stoppage.
Result: Khan def. Starkey // Decision (ref’s scorecard – 40-35)
Winner ✔️ // Method ❌ // Round ❌
Prediction Accuracy
Amir Khan vs Kell Brook
Winner: 10/10
Method: 6/10
Round: 4/10
2022 Boxing Season
Winner: 16/18
Method: 10/18
Round: 8/18
Boxing Overall
Winner: 175/218
Method: 125/218
Round: 92/218
Takeaway comments: A solid fight for both British legends to hang their gloves up for good.
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