Amir Khan 34-5 (21) and Kell Brook 39-3 (27) are both predicting a knockout when the bitter rivals meet at Manchester Arena in Manchester, England on February 19.
The fight will take place at a catchweight of 149-pounds.
“I’ve never run from Kell, never needed to,” Khan said. “My achievement in the sport speaks for itself. We’re here now, there’s no point crying about the past. In the past I don’t think he deserved the fight, now it’s come to a stage where I am waiting to give him a big shot… in the face.
“All that big talk he’s been doing – I’m gonna do this, I’m gonna do that – come February 19 we will see what he can do and how he can back those words up.
“I am coming levels down, taking this fight. I have fought the best in the world. I’ve conquered America. To give the British fans this fight, I am coming levels down. The people want to see this fight, the people want to see me punch him in the face. It’s time to put him in his place and hopefully move on to bigger and better things.
“This is the biggest fight in Britain aside from AJ and Fury. It’s being talked about everywhere, people want to see that fight and I decided that we should make that fight. Let’s put the gloves and settle it.
“I respect him as a fighter – anyone who steps in that square circle I respect – but this fight won’t go the 12 rounds.”
“This is the first time I have ever heard him talk about having respect for me,” Brook said. “Believe you me, after this fight, if he can still remember my name, he will have respect for me when he comes around. I am still the best welterweight in Britain and I will show everyone.
“Levels below? He’s in Cuckooland. He needs to go back to believing he’s a celebrity.
“This fight is the icing on the cake. This fight is a grudge match, this is what I want. I am sick of people asking me about this fight. I’ve been in with the pound-for-pound best in the world. This is an easy fight for me.
“You’re getting knocked out. This is my first fight. Forget my legacy. I’m gonna knock you spark out, you’ll see, you’re getting it. It’s easy to talk a big game. Watch what happens. I’m going to knock you out and look over and go ‘I told you so’. Levels below you? You’re nuts.
“You’ve never acknowledged me. I’ve heard you saying ‘Who is Kell Brook?’ I know you know who I am. I can’t want to spark you. I am going to retire you.”
The proposed fight between Khan and Brook has been discussed since the mid-2010s but never came to fruition.
“There were huge deals on the table,” Khan said. “Dubai was interested in the fight, Saudi Arabia, but we wanted to have it in the UK and to have Sky onboard is amazing.
“We wanted it to be live in the UK at a normal hour so the British fans could watch at a normal time or come to see it at a normal time. And to be in Manchester Arena where I have had some great experiences is great as well.”
Brook said: “We will see who the king of the north is. I’m so happy this fight has been made, it means everything to me. Like I said, I am treating it like it’s my first fight.”
