Kell Brook retires Amir Khan with 6th round stoppage

Luke Jennings

‘King of the North – I’m back on top now.’

Kell Brook stopped Amir Khan with a dominant display in the 6th round to claim victory in Manchesters AO Arena on Saturday night.

The past decade has been full of animosity between the pair as the boxers had initially met in the ring as amateurs 20-years-ago. They decided to settle their differences at a 149lb catchweight bout.

Khan announced after the fight that he was retiring after an illustrious career. The 35-year-old fought professionally 40 times and is a former unified light-welterweight world champion.

The tale of the take.

Khan came out throwing flashy combinations in the 1st round. The fight shaped itself quickly as Brook started to land big punches and daze the former world champion.

Brook was unloading on Khan as he would try counterstrike with minimal success. The 4th round saw Brook go to work with body shots as he looked to gain a stoppage win.

The wear and tear on Khan’s body started to show in the 5th round as he kept back peddling away from impending trouble.

It was one-way traffic as Khan kept his guard up against the relentlessness striking of Brook. Referee Victor Loughlin called a halt to the contest 51 seconds into the 6th round.

Kell Brook post-fight reaction.

Brook spoke to Sky Sports after his victory over Khan. “I knew that was going to happen. It was a matter of time before I was going to get him out of there. What a feeling. What a turnout.”

This fight was everything Brook dreamed of. “Those are the fights I wanted to be involved in when I walked into a gym as a kid. Them big fights, the War of the Roses, bragging rights, King of the North. I’m back on top now. I took Amir Khan out just like I said I was going to.”

The pair embraces and showed respect to each other after the fight. “It’s a weight off my chest. I put a lot of pressure on myself because I told everyone (I’d beat him) and I did believe it. I always knew from when I was 18 years old that I was a better fighter than him.”