My my, how the tables have turned! Amir Khan frequently turned his nose up at even the mere mention of a Kell Brook fight over the years, saying Brook was unworthy of a shot at him. Now that Brook just got his hands on the IBF title, however, Khan is singing a different tune.
"A fight with Kell Brook will be massive in the UK and I am not saying no. Kell thought I would say no to that fight but I am agreeing to it," he said.
"I will take the fight... with both hands. I am a young fighter. I love boxing and I want to give the British fans what they want and come on, let's get it on!"
"I love these big fights. I know what it's like to have tasted them and what it's going to be like at Wembley. It would be amazing if we got it there in the UK but, it's up to my team.
The comical part is that Kell Brook took the opportunity to take a few quips at Khan after beating Shawn Porter, saying Khan would have to wait in line while he pursues big fights with Mayweather or Keith Thurman (though Thurman certainly wouldn't be a big money fight). I don't think he'll actually make Khan wait in line but I definitely can't blame him for sticking it to Khan a bit after years of pursing the fight, only to be rebuffed by Khan time and time again. These two guys have no love lost between them and Kell Brook let it be known quite plainly.
"Listen, the British public want to see it," Brook told Sky Sports.
"He will probably start saying something else now, that I need to win another world title. But believe me 'Queen' Khan is getting it. He's been putting things on Twitter, bless him, and he's been putting in 'best of luck', but I know he doesn't like me.
"The fact is he is going to get it. I know he's back there in the studio watching: listen, you're getting it next boy. I am the champion of the world."
The fact is that this would make for a big fight in the UK and it would be a pretty good fight overall. Perhaps that's enough to persuade both sides to make it happen. Or perhaps Amir will just take this as another 'tickover' fight until his days of glory arrive.