No titles are on the road however bragging rights will likely be on provide as Amir Khan and Kell Brook lastly meet within the ring on Saturday night time.
The previous world champions, each 35, will finish years of insults, unhealthy blood and failed match-ups by lastly placing their expertise to the check on the Manchester Area.
Sky Sports activities boxing knowledgeable Jonny Nelson has the massive battle evaluation.
MOTIVATION
I genuinely concern for the psychological state of whoever loses this. It is private, it is nasty and, in Kell's case, it is the end result of an obsession.
Ever since their beginner days, Amir has had the breaks and that skilled jealousy has burned inside Kell. He has chased this battle for years and seen the justifications Amir regularly put up as disrespectful.
He has believed he can beat Amir however the response has been virtually like 'why do you have to earn a single penny off me?'
I do know Amir's former coach Virgil Hunter thought Kell too harmful at one stage, now, with no huge pay days elsewhere, he has needed to take the battle the British public needs.
In every single place they go, they get requested about combating one another, there is not any escape, I am unsure the loser will get over this.
Amir's energy has at all times been his blistering pace. His fingers was like rotor blades on a helicopter; they moved that quick his toes have been virtually floating off the ground as he unloaded his punches.
The difficulty is, as we witnessed in his battle with Terence Crawford, he is not as quick as he was. With out that pace it is like slicing off Samson's hair and consequently he should be smarter together with his jab and boxing ability.
Kell's forte has at all times been his timing. When a punch is thrown, he's very adept at evading it and countering in a single motion. It is akin to an awesome golf swing and he is among the finest exponents of the counter punch.
WEAKNESSES
There was a time when these two may lower corners in coaching and depend on their pure property to get them by on battle night time. Now, with each 35 years previous, that is not attainable.
One opponent fighters by no means beat is Father Time and these two have needed to work extraordinarily onerous in camp to get near what they have been.
Amir with out his pace is weak. His mind is telling him he can nonetheless put himself into conditions however his physique tells a unique story and it makes him simpler to hit on the chin.
Kell's hazard factors are his boiling emotion and fragile eye sockets. He is had titanium plates put in to rebuild his face however he's solely human. As soon as he begins getting hit across the eyes, it will likely be a psychological check as to what he's ready to take.
Will he be worrying about his eyesight if he takes too many jabs? Amir has already been mischievous asking 'how are your eye sockets?' It is all a part of making an attempt to get into Kell's head and he'll do properly to maintain his cool.
I've received an actual concern with this. Choosing 149lbs as a catchweight is a technique that signifies Amir is cautious of Kell. For those who've waited this lengthy to show you're the higher fighter then beat one of the best model of your opponent.
Amir is aware of Kell struggles extra with getting weight off and it is one other effort to weaken him. I do not respect that. There is no title on the road so why not battle at 154lbs the place they're each snug?
There was a £100,000 positive for each pound that they have been over the restrict however each made it. If I used to be Kell, with the amount of cash within the pot, I'd have been tempted to say 'stuff you', are available in at a cushty weight and pay a positive - no matter felt finest to win the battle.
His coach Dominic Ingle is not any fool. His nutritionist has been dwelling with Kell and he is wanting like a racehorse.
Kell will wish to make a blistering begin however will likely be finest tucking up tight initially, blocking and utilizing his timing. He should hold emotion in verify, field intelligent then step in to dictate the tempo and befuddle Amir, perhaps across the fifth spherical.
Amir has the talents and will field out and in, be disciplined, perhaps focusing on 150 pictures every spherical to put on Kell down.
After the 2 have been on TV with me on Gloves Are Off this week, most individuals thought Amir had received the psychological battle.
The humorous factor is off digicam, I had Kell calling me saying 'I ought to have stated this or that'. They wind one another up however Amir is extra media savvy.
Across the battle there have been loads of sideshows like Terence Crawford turning as much as assist Amir. If something that can function larger motivation for Kell.
It is so shut I would not put my home on both. We actually do not know what model of every fighter will flip up.
I am intrigued that Amir has a coach in Brian McIntyre who beforehand accused him of missing coronary heart. He should field with intelligence.
I've recognized Kell since he was a seven-year-old strolling into the gymnasium in Sheffield. He is very sturdy, cussed and, if he can management his feelings, which may see him edge this, simply.
The loser ought to retire, and so ought to the winner. There could also be a rematch however there's nothing greater left for them after this.
