"I want to fight Chris Eubank Jr, I dislike him more than Amir Khan" ๐ฅ Kell Brook | Up Front
Summary
TLDRIn this open conversation, British boxer Kell Brook reflects on his career with broadcaster Simon Jordan. He discusses growing up in Sheffield and being inspired to box from a young age. Brook talks about his rise in the sport, working with promoter Frank Warren, relationships with other fighters like Amir Khan, and some of his biggest fights. He opens up about personal struggles outside the ring and questioning himself after losses. Brook contemplates returning to boxing for big money fights but seems content in retirement now.
Takeaways
- ๐ Brook feels his career and life were ending after retirement, leading to alcohol abuse
- ๐ Boxing saved Brook from a delinquent path growing up
- ๐ช Belief from his father and Brendan Ingle made Brook believe he would be a world champion
- ๐ฅ Brook felt held back by promoter Frank Warren early in his career
- ๐ก Losing to GGG and Spence made Brook question his ability for the first time
- ๐ Brook puts himself in dangerous situations often outside the ring
- ๐คผโโ๏ธ The Khan fight was motivated by years of build up and Brook wanting to silence the critics
- ๐ โโ๏ธ Brook denies Khan avoided the fight for years out of fear of losing
- ๐ Changing gloves before Khan fight fueled rumors he would not come out
- โ๏ธ Brook believes Khan had no idea he tested positive for a banned substance
Q & A
What fueled Kell's passion for boxing from a young age?
-Kell was inspired by Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan films, and martial arts. He was energetic as a kid and liked punching, which led his dad to recognize his talent and interest in boxing.
How did Kell's relationship with his trainer Brendan Ingle help keep him focused?
-Brendan Ingle invested a lot of time mentoring Kell, driving him after training to talk for hours, playing classical music, and keeping him motivated to stay out of trouble. This guidance was critical in Kell's development.
Why did it take many fights before Kell stepped up to bigger name opponents?
-Kell felt promoter Frank Warren had him fighting lesser opponents for too long rather than pushing him. Kell wanted bigger fights to challenge himself but had to go through many tune-up fights first.
What does Kell attribute his loss to Errol Spence Jr. to?
-Kell believes the fight preparation was all wrong - he had personal issues with his trainer, struggled to make weight after the Golovkin fight, and wasn't mentally right. He wishes he had postponed the fight.
How did the Golovkin fight impact Kell mentally?
-Suffering the eye injury against Golovkin made Kell question his ability for the first time and introduced self-doubt. It changed his perspective on boxing and made him realize it's 'just a sport'.
Why does Kell want to fight Chris Eubank Jr.?
-Kell finds Eubank Jr.'s arrogance irritating for some reason. He dislikes his personality and believes getting up for that fight would be easier because he wants to 'beat him up'.
What does Kell think was behind Amir Khan's positive drug test?
-Kell believes Amir had no idea he had the banned substance in his system. Since they were both heavily tested leading up to the fight, Kell feels Amir didn't take it intentionally.
How did losing to Spence affect Kell mentally?
-The loss to a top fighter in his own weight class made Kell question if he was 'really good enough' and consider retirement. It was the lowest point of his career.
What motivates Kell to consider coming out of retirement?
-Kell misses the competitiveness and challenge of fighting. He loves training hard, competing, and proving doubters wrong. Names like Connor Benn intrigue him.
How does Kell reflect on his career struggles outside the ring?
-Kell admits he was young and 'dumb' getting into trouble early on. He's learned from rehab and has better relationships now. His family and kids are what's most important.
Outlines
๐ Beginning of conversation
The conversation begins with Jordan and Brook introducing themselves and Jordan explaining his goal to understand the backgrounds of fighters. Brook talks about growing up in a council estate, being energetic but not a star in school, and becoming interested in boxing after being inspired by Bruce Lee films. His dad recognized his talent and took him to Brendan Ingle's gym when he was 9 years old, where he met and looked up to other boxers like Ryan Rhodes and Johnny Nelson.
๐ Early boxing career and altercations
They discuss Brook's early boxing career with promoter Frank Warren, including Brook's frustration at fighting lesser opponents for too long before getting bigger fights. At 21, Brook was stabbed, and Jordan questions if Brook had the right people around him at that time. Brook says it was just being in the wrong place at the wrong time with childhood friends.
๐ฅ Getting big fights and setbacks
Jordan analyzes how it took a long time and many fights before Brook got a world title shot with Warren. Brook doesn't know why but wanted big fights sooner. He later signed with Eddie Hearn who helped make him a star. But Brook still didn't get a world title fight for 3 years with Hearn either. After becoming world champion, Brook suffered setbacks from altercations outside boxing and losses to Golovkin and Spence.
๐ก The Amir Khan rivalry
Brook recounts his long-running rivalry with Amir Khan, fueled by perceptions that Khan got more support and opportunities from promoters early on while Brook had to work harder. Brook believes Khan ducked him for years before they finally fought, and Brook felt vindicated by dominating Khan.
๐ Reactions to losses
Losing to Golovkin didn't impact Brook as much since it was up in weight. But losing his welterweight belt to Spence was devastating. He questioned himself and considered retirement after that low point when he lost in his own weight class.
๐ค Reflecting on career choices
Jordan asks about Brook's series of fights after becoming world champion, against lesser-known opponents instead of big names that could've gotten him more money and exposure. Brook says he didn't want those fights but had to take them due to mandatory challengers.
๐ Willingness to still fight
Though retired, Brook sounds open to coming back to fight Eubank Jr. or Connor Benn. He loves the competition and challenge. Jordan thinks fans would be interested in a Brook vs. Eubank Jr. fight, and Brook is confident he could beat Eubank Jr., whom he dislikes.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กboxing
๐กcareer
๐กworld champion
๐กinjuries
๐กlosses
๐กAmir Khan
๐กretirement
๐กlifestyle
๐กpromoters
๐กcomeback
Highlights
Brook started boxing at age 9 after being inspired by Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan films.
Brook says he would likely be dead or in prison if he hadn't started boxing.
Brook felt promoter Frank Warren didn't believe in him and held back his career early on.
Brook struggled with alcohol after retiring and felt like his life was ending without boxing.
Brook believes Khan ducked fighting him for many years due to fear of losing to a domestic rival.
Brook says fighting Golovkin was the first time he ever doubted himself before a fight.
Losing to Spence was the lowest point of Brook's career and made him question retiring.
Brook admits being overconfident against Crawford, an all-time great fighter.
The Khan fight was Brook's most focused training ever because of its personal meaning.
Brook believes Khan didn't knowingly take banned substances before their fight.
Brook struggled after boxing until reconnecting with family and finding peace.
Brook is open to coming out of retirement to fight Conor Benn or Chris Eubank Jr.
Brook particularly dislikes Eubank Jr. and would enjoy beating him up.
Brook believes he could still beat the top fighters, wanting that challenge again.
Brook loved proving doubters like the host wrong by winning big fights.
Transcripts
when it comes to alcohol like one one's
too many for me and a thousand's not
enough was it like that during your
career no it wer this is after my career
this is when nobody's fing me up to good
at gym anymore this is when I feel like
me life's ending it's like I've died
probably realistically I'd prefer to
fight Chris yank would you I just don't
like him there's something honestly I
dislike him more than a Mia KH you go in
against Crawford I mean I'd be blunt K
is this levels at this stage in your
career I'm being blunt right you might
not like it not levels at all because
this is a one-sided fight you have a
little bit if it's one-sided is it what
do you mean by one you tell me how you
think it's one-sided this is that front
with me Simon Jordan I believe there are
a lot of vacuous uninformed unchallenged
opinions out there I want to get to the
bottom line and cut through the nonsense
so with this podcast with William Hill
I'm going to get people with strong
views who think they can stand them up
to proper scrutiny there's a good chance
I might learn something along the way
and more importantly so might
you joining me in today's episode a
boxer from the Steel City who headed
stat side to become ibf World
Welterweight Champion a 43 fight career
that included stabbings promoter splits
and broken eye sockets before ending in
emphatic fashion as he put to bed his
Infamous long-running rivalry with Amia
khah the Special K Kell Brook welcome to
up front thank you nice to see you
listen in in these shows K what we try
to do very quickly is establish the
background to Fighters because I've
always I'm always f ated by fighting my
background is obviously is football but
I'm fascinated by Fighters because
there's a very different mentality and
the motivation that creates a fighter
so what's your story yeah mine's you
know counselor
State pretty not very noted kid you know
at school very proactive mhm you know a
non-star I couldn't sit
still um I think what got mean to box
him was like Bruce Lee Jim Claude vanam
know Jackie Chan I was like constantly
watching their films and I will like
come foing and chucking punches at setti
um any sporting background from your
family not really not like my uncles
used to box when they were younger but
you know just had a few fights and and
fell fell off really there only been me
really what's gone on and done done what
I've done right so you know from from
that young age my dad seen something in
me you know that I could punch really
hard and I were very you know um I
proactive and understand that twinkle
that twinkle in me eye he said and he
took me down to Brendan Eng Les and at
Winker not just any gym but Brendon Eng
gym yeah so it took me down to the gym
and I remember first walking in and just
seeing everyone sparring and sweating
and punching bags and I just as soon as
I walked in I just knew that how old
were you I went I were nine nine I were
nine year old when I when I first went
in and uh princess with there mhm Ryan
Rose Johnny Nelson mhm you know um all
these Fighters so you know as soon as I
walked in there I just knew that this
this were for me no other sports at all
no other sports have not been into any
other sports to be fair like never been
into football never liked a little bit
of basketball but no nothing you always
you know like punishing people in face
basically you know what I mean yeah what
do you what do you think fuels a fighter
in terms of I would in an ignorant way
suggest that into going into a hurt
business you've got to come from a
position of some form of anger or some
form of resentment or some form of
desire to get out from underneath I mean
you talked about being a naughty kid and
you've talked about in the background of
your life and I'm skipping forward a
little bit but I'll come back to my
point um about a lot of the company that
you kept and where they found themselves
so was anger resentment desire to get
out from underneath part of the fuel and
also did it by going into boxing did it
save you from going down a pathway that
a lot of your mates went down 100% 100%
yeah
um I think if I want a f box I'd
definitely be you know dead or in prison
you know because you know from from
where I'm from obviously it's you know
that's what you know you're Pro prodct
to your own environment but are you a
follower that's that's what I that's
what I've seen that's you know close
people around me what they did and you
know it's it's something what you just
fall into but but again I mean I'm
posing you a quite pointed question but
are you a follower or are you a leader
because other people do things do you
necessarily do it too I think that i' be
the leader in what what what I were
doing yeah but You' cause the most
trouble yeah right yeah definitely okay
but I think that I would have gone down
the line of you know being being a bad
boy but there is a unique psyche that
you guys have I've sat here listening to
Kyle fr talk to me about the motivations
that got him in a ring and what he
wanted to do to George Groves and how he
overcame his nerves and fear and Johnny
Nelson how he overcame the embarrassment
and Ricky Hatton how he wanted to
produce certain outcomes for himself and
Billy Joe Saunders it started from a
position of I am going to be the best in
the world there's no two ways about it
I'm not living in a caravan with a with
a with a broken
window was
yours along those lines and and was it
fueled by the necessity to get out from
underneath I know I'm I know I'm
repackaging the same question yeah but I
want to get some understanding of your
psyche I think I you know with
especially the passion I had for boxing
like with anything playing snooker like
table tennis darts I'm very competitive
I always want to win like I'm a bad
loser I need to win um and I think just
like you know I love my dad you know and
he's always said from a very young age
that I'd be become world champion right
you know this is Terry right yeah Terry
yeah so who came into your life when you
one years one years old one years old
and you consider him to be your father
he's yeah my father me and him have gone
through Frank Warr and every different
promoters he's always been been side by
side through all my career and all my
life outside boxing so you know he's
like would he have not kept you off the
would he have not kept you on the
straight now as well yeah no he would
have and he has done you know in my
career he's got me out of some sticky
situations but um you know like you know
like I look up to him so much you know
and um from a young age like I said he's
always said that I'm going to be world
champion right and did you believe that
and I really believe what he said 100
million did you believe it because he
said it or did you believe it because
you believed it I believed it cuz he
said it at first initially so but then
obviously like people also I looked up
to in the gym like NAD Ryan Brendan Eng
Les you know saying that all singing
fromont same M sheet saying that you
know I'm a good ad and be one at the
best what's come out of you know
Sheffield and and be and go all the way
you know and I started getting older um
winning you know national championships
36 36 um amate fights yeah 31 wins two
abas yeah you've done your research
absolutely that's right that's right
that's so yeah Brendan Engle and lots of
lots of guys that sit here I mean I
remember watching El Graham and watching
him and I always had admiring El Graham
watching him tragically get beaten in a
fight with Julian Jackson that he that I
thought he was going to win and
obviously Julian Jackson cleaned him out
and obviously Brendan Engle over the
years has become very influential lots
of people associate him with NZ associ
with Johnny Nelson the influence he had
on
you unbelievable everything he said you
know I did Brandon he would
just he's like a prophet you know he's
he's like he's done so much for the
community and he's got so much respect
you
know is they special you're a special
man Brendon what's you done for the
community you mean taking young kids
like you and giving you an opportunity
yeah even me I would know you at school
the time is put into me in the gym like
like it you know um I W I were getting
better I've never been the brightest but
you know the school gr is terrible you
and me both but like I would I would the
teacher will coming up to him you know
getting in touch with BR and say he's
doing a lot better at school and right
you know because he spent this time with
me and his old man Brendan he used to
take me after the gym we used to go to
Steam and sa and used to just talk to me
were they were same stories but he used
to just spend yeah invest he used to put
classical musicon yeah and uh drive
drive to Ste and son and just talk to me
you know for hours and spend L lots of
time with her you know and is you know I
think without without him like I said I
don't know what what you know if I don't
know what I would have been I hear the
same story from all the boys that have
worked with him and you know obviously
Johnny Nelson talked about
the the the participation in going to
local prisons and and fighting uh the
fighters fighting with the guys in
prisons that were Boxers and that wanted
to be boxers and going in there with
nazim hammed and going in there with
Herby Hyde and going in there with
Johnny Nelson did you get involved in
any of that no was that after was I was
before your time before my time but I've
seen I've seen that you know I think
I've seen J nson put one at convict St
he's told me yeah he wasn't supposed to
he was supposed to just drop his hands
let do it yeah yeah but yeah they were a
bit they were I'd say that I were out
last their era do you know I were the
youngest of yeah like them but there was
there were still like 10 years plus on
top of me so I I were too young to go to
that you you become a pro you sign with
Frank which seems to be uh a lot of
young Fighters start off with Frank and
we'll get to Frank war in your
relationship with him
um it seems to me that it takes a lot of
fights to get you into certain spaces
and places and it seems to me that
there's an interesting I mean this might
be me overanalyzing but I'll throw it
and you see what you think when I looked
at your record the 28 fights gets you to
Carson Jones right and that to me and
you're going to go how dare you but I'm
going to say it that to me looks like
the first recognizable name of any real
Merit besides the British belt that you
Wun against Barry Jones right but but
but on the world stage right and it
seems to me the first 16 or 17 fights
you have are all six round or eight
round fights you have a 50% stoppage
record in those fights yet when you go
to the 12 rounds after that for the next
10 fights you're knocking everybody out
my point in all that is it seems to me
that your career goes in fits and starts
in terms of 16 fights seems a lot of
fights for you to be fighting at six
rounders you're bang right you're bang
right so why did that happen it's
probably the way Frank Warren did it you
know just I will fighting these journey
man for way too long you know I wanted
to have these tests but
it just that's how I wanted I wanted the
the bigger fights I didn't want to be
fighting these fights what don't come to
win they come to survive yeah and like
you said the stoes started coming when
we were fighting people winning records
you know the better better the opponent
the better I am and and you get the
stoppage The Knockouts what I got so but
but why did they take so long I don't
know I think it maybe stopped stop
whatever happened in me like you know
injur like I don't know it could be
anything like I might have not bed for a
while they might have just filled the
show or you know I ended up just
fighting these Journeymen way too too
long like you said I should have been
fighting real FS a lot earlier but that
does that sort of flies in the face of
and I'm not and I'm not making an
observation but there's a reputation
that goes with Frank Warren being being
a particularly good Matchmaker yeah and
that seems to be the polar opposite of
it what again you're there and the only
way I can understand it because I'm
looking at your record G it's taking
taking him 30 it takes him 16 17 fights
to get a British title shot right he's
fighting at six round fights it takes
him 28 fights to get to someone like
Carson Jones and then it takes him 30
fights to get a world title shot and
this seems to me to be an an ordinate
amount of time with us with a very
talented individual that promoters want
to make money from so why Kell you know
you got your dad involved in the picture
as well so why why are you appearing to
look look like you're being held back on
marginalized when you a talent it's a
very good question I you were there so
you can perap inlighten us yeah how I
just I just fight whoever is in front of
me I wanted the big fights you know I
wanted to be toping bills like early
early doors I didn't want to be I didn't
I I didn't want it to have gone on as
long as it did like you said I wanted to
be in big fights and it took me cuz
we're going back a while it cuz I've
been at this level for quite a while and
that was long ago I can't really go back
to that but the fact is I wanted them
big fights believe you me I does it piss
you off looking back it piss me off yeah
because I wanted the big fights I didn't
want to be fighting over many fights you
said before I B for br T I wanted I
wanted them where before they were me
and I think some at doy at the time what
were um I wanted the big fights you know
but I I just I I just had to just get in
there a young kid in over in that's what
I thought because it feels like it
shapes the perception of you and it
shapes other people cuz I have a
perception of you and that perception
manifests itself in a conversation later
on when you fight em Khan where I pick
am Khan to beat you and we'll cover that
fight later on but by the nature of
these fights that you're having I think
people like me as much as my opinion is
not particularly important shaped an
opinion of you that was that you're
you're not operating at the highest
level and that you're not a superstar
and it's an interesting one because
other people refer to that a later stage
but I wonder Kell if instances in your
life that change the direction at 21
years of age you're getting yourself
involved in an altercation where you're
getting stabbed and those sort of things
bring a perspective and a focus on
somebody what's going on around you in
your life where you as a prize fighter
are involved in altercations where you
know it's not the first time it happens
it happens later on in your career and
we're touch that and these might be
subjects that irritate you but part of
the backstory that go with you so you
going have to answer them or or bat them
away as you see fit um but at 21 years
of age you're with the country's
probably leading promoter Frank Warren
we're debating how long it's taking you
to get to fights but you're getting
yourself into scenarios where you're
getting stabbed and it makes me wonder
and there's no criticism implied here
about the people in your life but are
you getting we're all judged Often by
the people around us and often we make
decisions that who's around us were you
guessing the right people around you and
the right advice and the right guidance
to make sure that all of this
opportunity that was inevitably going to
come your way wasn't pissed away by
getting yourself involved in things that
didn't need to for you to be involved in
course of course I didn't you know I
were a young kid I still 21's old
enough I don't know you're still you're
still young and dumb and I've still got
I've I've still got the fs what I've I
went to school with what from what
counsel State you know and you you still
knock about together and there the uh
there problems where we going out and
thing and things happen from where I'm
from that that kind of thing can can
happen you know but you knowing me like
you know I'm not one to cause trouble or
to be it's just it just finds you it
just it justes found me you know I mean
I don't like we had going into it
because it's then you have to talk about
like the person who it should have
happened to and mentioning name and
stuff like but no I don't need you to do
that we don't need to you know it was
just like wrong place wrong time and you
know it happened you know and this this
obviously the these things like that
what what stopped starting your career
you know the the these many things what
happen you just see Fighters turn you
know Turn Up For a fight but you don't
know what happens in training and what
happens you know um behind closed doors
what's your fixation with emia KH I mean
it seems to be a constant theme and the
the allegation is and I'm sure there's
two versions to it that you don't get
included in the Olympics he does and
then and then of course in future times
he tells you about a schools you're
inpiring and you've got a different view
on it but you seem to uh have this uh
relationship where you chase Amir Khan
for years and years and years it's it
does the fixation start with it's
probably how it looks you know everybody
justes put everyone mentioning my name
and his name you mention it you mention
it a lot everyone else no but everyone's
mentioned they want to see this fight
with me and him you know so I'm I'm into
a corner where that like I've got to
mention it back because why can't this
fight happen you know many years before
it it did happen you know I'm never
being fixated on him or jealous when
when you calling that in 2012 whenever
he's boxed away you know as a bre I want
him to go out and win I don't never want
him to lose or it's just that the way
that I with the with the Olympics and I
Frank and put him on a pedestal and I
used to be on these shows same shows and
I'd be at the bottom of the Billow i' I
wouldn't even have a I could just be
like warming up and be chucked out at
any point or when everyone's left i' be
last one on you know and I've always
it's always he's always had that push
more than me and the easy Road where
I've had to get myself up the rankings
and do it the hard way the proper way do
you think that the Olympics gave him a
bit of Advantage because when you come
back from the Olympics PS he came back
with a silver not a gold Ben Whitaker
came back with silver he wanted to fight
in a bin right Amia Khan came back with
a silver and was and lorded and
applauded do you think that's what gave
him a Kickstart because you both signed
for the same promoter at roughly the
same time right of course he didn't get
him get him get him that push you know
to go out he were a young young guy got
a silver and they they had a rematch
Frank did that and he end up beating the
guy who beat him in in the amateur yeah
yeah like of course you bit put on that
pedestal like Billy Joe Saunders James
theel Frankie Gavin anony Joshua anony
Joshua you you get that momentum you get
you know you're the you're the flavor do
you resent it you know I then did you
resent the fact that he was getting all
the attention from a promoter that's
supposed to be looking after your career
and he's getting pushed in certain
directions does that fuel some of the um
attitude and Outlook that you seem to
devel between one and other over the
years I think it probably yeah it has
you know Frank waren signed me up and he
promised me when he did sign me up that
me and him BR sh and we would meet a bit
like deail and George groes you know
that bridge title level you know instead
of it never happening and it's so it's
just it's just gone on and on and on and
it's a fight and and just we with his
comments saying that he it's me what
didn't want the
fight and he's saying even with a spar
and and stuff even after the fight what
we study said he can't even remember
what happened you know I don't know if
you've seen that but um it's a fact that
should have happened it's been kept away
from the fun for for many years but we
had it in the end had it and we'll talk
about that fight in specifics you you
split from Frank in
2011 right from from your side of the
equation what was behind your
motivations for splitting with
Frank I think it at the time I were I
were training with Dave cwell right and
I like Dave's good Dave cwell and I
think Frank had a bit of a problem
because David day started this thing up
with
Satanta okay broadcaster yeah the
broadcaster and I think Frank said to me
that you know he wanted me to leave Dave
he wanted you to leave Dave leave Dave
and go back with Brendan you know and I
I yeah and and basically how how we
start how
we the reason why I left Bren in first
place is because he said the same thing
there like I've got all these promoters
like and Frank with a man Frank with
like the the the Eddie earn let's say of
you know the promoters you know back
then at that time at that time would it
be a surprise to you that my
understanding of the situation was is
that you wanted to fight Manny Pacquiao
yeah and Frank did not feel that at that
stage in your development at 2011 what
would you been in 2011 25 yeah right and
the level that you've been fighting at
that the fight for you that was right
for you given the fact he's fighting
Marquez he's fighting Bradley he's
fighting Keith Thurman he's at that
level and you're building up to that
level that he didn't want you to have
that fight probably it would have been
right to do so yeah but was more into it
than you just said it that's what he
thinks because I asked him no it just to
extend contracts you know how how things
can get how things can get and it would
just like that was the way of getting
out of it because we're getting promis
it weren't just Manny Pacquiao there
were there were things there were fights
before and there were you know it were
like I me I can't remember Philip
cot I don't I I'm not sure I don't there
there's been like fights and Promises
let's say around them after Filip C this
it's not just manip Pacquiao I know what
you're saying you think he was right at
that time to steer you away from
fighting Pacquiao manip Pacquiao were
like more in his prime there a young
young fighter was not really I've not
boxed it anywhere near that level so
yeah but but it's not that's not how
it's gone that's not how it were you
sign um with Eddie Hearn
and Eddie at the time um talks about
who's in class and going to be a
superstar what what made you sign with
Eddie what was the motivation to go with
Eddie because he can sell you a good
piit you a good woo what was the closing
part of saying Eddie Hearn he's the one
because at the time match room were
coming of age yeah coming they didn't
have many fires they got promised to to
to promote me and to have me at fighting
regular and to build me to build to
build me the fire you know he doesn't
get you well tile fight for three
years he didn't get me well title fight
for three years but yeah so what was the
difference between the two camps him so
you've got you're coming out of Frank
you're going into Eddie and you you've
suff you've been told by Eddie
was it was it was it um Kell because
Eddie said that you're going to be his
number one he's going to give you top
billing priy going to make you feel a
million dollars there were there were
many parts of course that would have
been a part of the reason but just to be
promoted get me fighting regular in Chef
he'll build me up you know before when I
with Frank Warren you know like I
weren't really known eddan made me a
star you know he he you know we s Arenas
at you know before that i' but I'd
fought with Frank and you know the
support i w i weren't really known you
know he promoted me got he got he got he
built me the fire and and got me to be
to be a superstar with can you see can
you again I I may I've already asked
this question so apologies if I have but
I don't feel I've got the answer can
there be any reason in your mind's eye
why someone that's as commercially
motivated by Frank as Frank Warren would
want to almost hide your light under a
bushel do you understand what I mean by
that keep you in the background because
I don't understand it
yeah you don't understand it I don't
understand I don't understand why why
why he did that or why why he did that
was it I don't know if he's got cuz he's
got these Fighters I don't know if cuz
Eddie just had me they were me Darren
Barker and F and he could and he and he
could just concentrate on how to get me
out there promote me in the best way he
did did you did either you or or your
father maybe maybe Frank didn't believe
in me maybe he didn't believe me but it
was like maybe you know doing nothing
did you get that impression at all I did
you know you did I I I did I yeah I
didn't feel
like do we definitely weren't that
connection what me and Eddie has got not
at all did you either you or Dad pull up
Frank and say what's going on here we
didn't know any different you know we
were young green like we're not TR we're
not learning trade you know we we didn't
really know so you're sign with
Eddie
did he make Carson Jones he did didn't
he yeah yeah and that then accelerates
you to a point where two fights later
you fight Shawn Porter tell us about
that experience in that journey I
remember you celebrating in the ring I
remember seeing interviews with you
before the fights and you were confident
and
assured but the manner in which your
performance was a professional shut out
I think the score cards were wrong I
don't think there was one score card
that should have been drawn but but it
gave it to him and that's what you get
when you get away Fighters is you
sometimes
tell me about that experience of going
in there beating a world champion in his
own back Garden in America also without
getting perhaps the attention that you
should have got yeah it
was Simon I swear to you that that was
the best that were the best I've I've
ever felt in my entire life you know in
boxing in in my life y you know because
he would like he would be BU as an X
Mike Tyson did Shawn PA knocking Paul
Mal out in his fire watch it in Vegas
thinking I'm fighting this
guy you know and and people and had and
people everyone had me not to win that
fight and just you know I think that I
had like a moment in there when I had a
moment in there when when when the fight
were over and I think that that's when
did you know you'd won I was just going
to said you know like the secret like LW
of
Attraction it well I call them years I
don't know it's like all them years my
dad telling me I'll be world champion
and I just knew before it this was it
yeah and that feeling you know going 12
rounds in America all me family there my
mom never seen me fight she come down
never seen you fight before she never
seen me fight you know she she were
there and it would just it blew my mind
it blew my mind obviously hearing and
the new you know being being there with
the people that love me MH you know
what's with the ups and downs in boxing
eventually getting to to that moment and
becoming world champion but what's the
buildup like for you when you're Landing
in a space where you're fighting for the
world title not the after result but the
buildup and the expectation on you and
the pressure that you put on yourself
because this is your moment this is
where the ambition comes to to meet the
opportunity what's that like cuz people
can't relate to someone going in to
fight for a world
title it's just like you know every
every single second of it is it's on
your mind y you know it's last thing you
think about at night it's first thing
you wake up to in the
morning from a nervous point of view
from nervous of from a nervous point of
view from every point of view I'm a good
enough I'm a really good enough you know
really like cuz I'm a really good enough
like I'm here now I'm fighting the best
in the world you know I'm I really good
enough it you know this is what these
are all the questions you're asking
yourself you're only a human being and
you you're away your own thoughts and
and the pressure just build builds up
you know how does nerves manifest itself
for you did you become erasable bad
tempered or does it make you withdrawn
what does it do what did it do for you
when you're coming into this Monumental
fight I just go quiet you know really
really quiet and just
like just in me own thought just in me
own thoughts there as the hours it's
like only way I can describe it probably
is like the people who are going to go
get killed on death row you know okay
walking towards the Galls walking
walking through your final Le injection
yeah Leal injection that's what that's
how that's the only way I could describe
it what they F you know that that
feeling of dread
then is it feeling yeah it's like it's
like the unknown it's like it's like
it's not fear though is it you're not
frightened of going it's fear it's every
it's a lot of emotion it's fear fear of
losing I'm not fear about getting hurt
fear of losing not never get about
getting hurt getting anything like that
it's the fear of losing like and cuz
it's I want to win so much and I've lost
that that many times in me head as well
you know just like it's just a battle
it's what you you've been role playing
this in your mind I've role played this
fight in my mind thousands of times you
know thousands of times so and you lost
it I've I've lost it I've you well
played it in your mind I've lost it in
my mind I've won it it's like you know I
can so many things honestly it's it's
it's like that you know who's training
you at the time Dave for the world title
yeah no uh Dominic Engel Dominic inle
right so you've gone back with the
Engles now yeah yeah so I've been with
with the
Engles many years before the sh pter
fight
but but obviously like I've never really
boxed in America then I'm flying to Las
Vegas climatizing yeah doing doing two
weeks out there and then flying to LA
and you know I'm I'm I'm like Facebook
promoter Oscar Del I think I'm on the
big
stage cuz I've always boxed in Britain
it's like I've I've arrived I'm like I'm
good enough it's
and then we're finally here you know I
remember looking at him opposite him the
ref you know this me the referee in
Shawn Porter and I'm looking thinking
that is the that's the fastest fight
I've ever had in my life it's gone like
a blur it's just gone like a blur that
when you're looking first what you
thinking what's happening in your head
so in my head I'm thinking this Spell's
going to go now and this is it this this
is it Kell this is what you've this is
this is what the dream this is what it's
been about since you've been 9y old this
is what everyone's been talking about
this is this is it this is the world
toi and in your ear you've arrived let's
see and I'm going to do everything I
have to do I'm do I'm going to do
absolutely everything I'm so focused so
tunnel in you know to to obviously go
out and do what I did um when you win
obviously I saw the Euphoria were you
did you expect now this is it lights
camera action this is it now I've won
the world title I'm going to get all the
opportunities and all the recognition
that I deserve did you did it feel like
this is the beginning of something this
is what I just thought I'd ke itself
yeah this is this is where big dog come
this where big fight Keith Thurman these
are all big fights I'm to get I'm world
champion do you all want to fight me now
in my head this is what's going to be
happening of course that's what I I
believe yeah right okay and did you
automatically is is there is there a
switch that goes on in your head um
because B McAn said there was when he
became World title champ when he won the
world title you feel like you're a World
Champ yeah I did Chris Willam Smith said
it the other day I feel like a world
champion I'm not I totally get what B
said there because when I become world
champion I think you know that you
deserve to be where you are some like I
totally get that what you just said you
just did it change you
anyway as in as in what becoming big
time or getting cared away of yourself
or just actually confirming what you
already know conf just like yeah confirm
I already I know you know I mean I just
I didn't change change as a person you
know you see some Fighters where they
become world champion and goes to the
red and they start being a complet
different person but I just I'm I just
me but I just felt that I belong and and
I deserve to be world champion and I
just had a feeling of I walking like I'm
on air you know like this like I am I
thought I'm a good enough I know that I
am you now are and now am okay you're
now the ibf world Welterweight
Champion you've got by your own words
the potential keys to the safe the
opportunities and you get yourself in
another
situation and you get yourself in a
potentially life-threatening situation
yeah how have you done that kill I mean
you're not 21 now I'm not 21 you're 26
27 years of age 28 years of age you're
now a world champion you now got profile
you now got all your dreams what are you
doing getting yourself involved in a
[ย __ย ] fight in Spain or wherever you
were yeah in ten in when my my daughter
my M was pregnant Linda yeah
um it's just that like I say you you
don't know what's going through
somebody's mind you know like your mind
you're the one that's putting yourself
in this situation putting myself in a
situation where I'm
around
drinking drugs as a professional
Sportsman as a world champion yeah why
it's it's just just of how it happened
you know there obviously with a younger
generation is there drink the people
drinking and after party you know they
take drugs but you're a superstar I'm a
superstar on the Kasper being one you a
world champion everything you've wanted
I'm a world champion I'm I've always
been I'm still that councel kid mhm I'm
still a council kid I'm you know I'm I'm
a world champion but that's what I am
right I'm just trying to understand
what's going on in your head because
it's interesting because people don't
get to hear what's going on on other
people's heads and I'm not poking at it
because I want to make you look small
I'm poking at it to understand why you
put yourself in that position and you
say
well you take the boy out of council
States but you never take the council
state out of the boy is that what you're
saying I was saying that you know
um you start on to like when it comes to
alcohol like one one's too many for me
and a thousand's not enough right you
know I've always I've always had enough
but I'm never satisfied and that and
that's what I've discovered you know by
going to riab and by going to uh was it
like that during your career no it
wasn't this CU you're a professional
sport this is after my career this is
one I've it right bottom this where I F
this is when this is when nobody's phing
me up to good at gym anymore this is
when me like me papers is over this is
where I feel like my life's ending it's
like I've died because I've got no fire
that's that's what my life was you know
when I've come to retired I'm I'm I'm
sat there in my big house and I'm
thinking what do I do now what do I do
next no I get that it's like in the eyes
what I've had and stuff and there the
lights go down the lights go down and
nobody nobody nobody get nobody learns
you how to deal nobody prepares you for
prepar you how to deal I'm going to I'm
going to cover that part right but why
do you think it happened why do you
think someone attacked you you don't
know what goes through people's mind you
know it's like the person maybe Envy
this person's
saying that if this situ like putting
like this guy's completely off his being
being at it for days and I just come
I've just won this world time my Miss is
pregnant I sent her down the road to go
to hotel and I'm having a drink with
some old old Irish men who are talking
to about Brendan Engel and then like the
Alica bar across the road this young
woman's come across l l car and uh and
I've just went World tile and they said
Oh Kelly like come across to our P like
have a few drinks with us and and like I
just World title everyone's excited part
in and then she's like come back to
toward me and me partnering we're having
an after party here and I've I've had a
few drinks and I've gone back and like
you said you don't know what's going
through someone's mind you know like
saying did you see it coming cuz often
you see these sort of things coming
don't you I didn't see this coming you
know maybe intoxication I didn't see
this this coming Absol i w I've had my
leg chopped off right you know but when
he start saying that he's going to start
talking very weird this person about
stabbing and and shooting and I said
anyone can do that they're a coward in
my eyes anyone can do that I I'd stand
and have a fight like and this is is
just pause before before you know it
like just as a blinking an eye he cuz of
these small places in ten you know he's
come back and he's grabbed this knife
and as fast as that so he calling me a
coward then I've like whoa what's what's
going on yeah and he's he's gone down to
me me off just as fast as that and he he
he stood over me and I'm trying to get
out of the get out of this place and he
and he's completely like lost lost his
mind trying to do you think you lost
anything do you think you lost anything
physically as a result of those injuries
who knows you know as in well you know
yourself don't you you know what levels
you operate at well I I got myself right
I got myself right I could fight again
yeah you know and n months later didn't
you yeah
yeah it's hard to tell you know I felt
that I were back I felt that I were back
you know talk to me Kel about the next
array of fights because I'm trying to
I'm struggling to to understand the
direction that you're going and I know
you're going to say to me mandatories
right but I'm looking at joj Dan I'm
looking at um Kevin Byer I'm looking at
Frankie Gavin right with no disrespect
to these guys right and then I'm looking
at Danny Garcia and I'm looking at Keith
Thurman and I'm looking at some of the
other characters that are out and about
there Marquez I'm looking at who's else
out there and I'm looking at you and I'm
thinking why are you in these sort of
peripheral fights that aren't going to
get you huge amounts of money aren't
going to get you huge amount of exposure
and yet you're in with Eddie Hearn
there's no criis Eddie here by the way
before everyone gets all tied up in NS
about me criticizing him well let me
just tell you do you think I want the
big I'm a young 20 like do you think I
want the multi-million pound fights with
Danny Garcia and Thurman yeah like
because you had you had de didn't got
remember at the time you know politics
alman's got all these Fighters they all
just get filed and fight each other but
Khan's over there your little Nemesis
he's fighting Peterson he's fighting
Marcus M he's fighting Garcia he's
fighting all these names in America is
it because he went to
America I'm not comparing contrasting
I'm just saying that you're a world
title holder and with respect to Frankie
Gavin with respect to Jojo den and and I
think there's a difference between JoJo
den and Frankie Gavin and Kevin bizer
yeah but these are not the fights that
you would want that I wanted them fights
did do you think for a minute I one of
them fights I've just I've just become
I'm I'm world champion do you think I
want to fight they might be my managers
but all the folks heard of them yeah no
one's heard of them I've got to fight
them or get belt up yeah I have to fight
these Fighters you know fre nondescript
man like or get belt up that that's how
the ibf work you know so I didn't want
to fight them when I saw you fight
Golovkin do you know I felt for you
honestly tell I felt [ย __ย ] sorry for
you yeah you know what I thought I
thought they can't they can't they can't
sell him they can't sell him they can't
get him the fights that he that perhaps
he should be getting so they about to
stick him in with Golovkin and watch him
get his face [ย __ย ] punched in that
doesn't mean you weren't game it doesn't
mean you didn't put up a fight because
you
did yeah but what do you think when I
say that to you go do you think like
going came back here he's an absolute
monster but do you know like someone
who's
unbeaten someone's unbeaten and really
believe that like it can be any any man
middleweight even at middleweight I just
thought you always think you know I'm
going to box him I'm I'm going to keep
out away I'm I'm I'm better you know but
as we know it didn't go down like that
but it done you didn't it it damaged you
it damaged me it created a different
division it damed ccum it did actually
change me that because when I admit when
he broke my eye you know and and the and
the surgeon said you know it started to
come to me where I think this is just a
sport you know I've been looking at it
different you know I could have lo I
could have lost my eye he said one more
big shot and you could have been blind
and that at home you know and and that
ate home big time and he actually come
through me in the fight after when I
boxed uh Errol Spence did you think did
you did you believe in yourself I mean
you you
are a world champion in your own right
you're undefeated you know we're talking
about these other Fighters they still
got to be beaten right so I'm not
diminishing those Fighters but they
weren't going to get you paid the way
that the keys to the castle that you
thought you were going to get right did
you think in this Golovkin fight did you
go into it
thinking same as anything else I don't
give a [ย __ย ] who you are and I don't give
a monkeys that I'm going up two weight
classes I'm going to win this fight and
you're just another opposition in front
of me and I'm going to do to you what I
did to Shawn Porter yeah well well that
would the or does gkin as the reputation
that goes before him play in your mind
that was the first time that it did am I
am I that was the first time that I
remember being in the hotel room and I
thinking I'm I'm fighting Golovkin now
tonight and the doubt I started to doubt
myself honestly did did you I did I
thought on the night of the fight I
remember on the night of the fight with
me and me nutritionist at the time Greg
Marriott you know and I I told him you
know I thought I just said that I didn't
ex a lose I said you think I can I can
win this fight can't I I'm going to win
this so that's straight away saying it
out loud you know that's negative is
yeah that's doubting yourself that's
doubt your because like on the weeks
coming up you just see all all I've been
able all I've seen is Golovkin knocking
everyone out middle weights and and then
I'm thinking starting on me that I'm you
know I'm fight I'm fighting him in a few
hours you know and uh and like and I
think A lot's in the mind you know like
I said if you really believe you know
Law of Attraction if you if if you
really believe something like a like I
know going to win World TI you know with
everything in
me went out and did it you know and a
start when when when you're negative
that were that were first time I'd Lo
I'd lost so you
lose this is the First lost you B right
what's the psychological effect on you
does it get diminished does the
psychological damage that losing your
first fight has as a fighter get reduced
by the fact hang on I went up two weight
classes or is there a big impact
irrespective it it was still a big
impact but the second loss when we get
to that that that was the real loss for
me right I think but
because I probably it wasn't as bad
because you were a unified middleweight
Beast still middleweight went even fire
and I think that took a little bit off
it but I still lost and I was still
absolutely devastated but what really
destroyed me with with a with a with the
Errol Spence loss the damage that
Golovkin does to you did you know the
moment it it hit you that that that was
a real problem for you yeah I did I did
I just I just knew something terrible
had happened right I well like a crap
claw being crushed like I I could I
could hear it I could feel it right you
know the adrenaline running but I could
actually feel like I knew something
wasn't right different level of
pain weren't really so much the pain it
were it
were it was what it did to me like like
the my vision right yeah and I know
something see like this just completely
discombobulates you and takes you out of
control of you you yeah does it frighten
is it frightening it's frightening of
course it's frightening when you've got
someone who's got that kind of power got
that kind of power coming to and you've
got more coming to a a wounded animal
you know you know it's it's it's scary
this is the first fight that you lose
psychologically it has an impact if I'm
right but it's not a that destructive an
impact you've lost your first fight you
don't know what losing looks like you
now do but you've also lost to a weight
to a guy that's dominating a weight
class which is to levels above yours you
now end up with Errol
Spence if you hadn't thought
Golovkin do you think you would have
been in a better position to have beaten
Spence 100% right so so the damage that
the Golovkin fighted to you was quite
significant when it it it were but on
top of that don't forget I didn't have
to make 147 I had to make middleway yeah
to start with so so you go get back down
again so so so after that fight I middle
way and then on top of that that F I've
had I've had I didn't actually your eyes
Bren I've had my eyes broken then I've
gone I've gone away I've gone away with
my family I'm eating I'm eating on top
of a stone above me wa to start
with and that's with that fight seemed
to have come like even we manag were
like give the title up Eddie said to me
you can give the title up to what end no
and then what would that do for you like
because like because the time I had to
make this fight and the way and the
condition I we in so you
vacate this would just give this not
because because you've got give me
giving me the options what different
kinds of options what your reaction
would have been no absolutely not no
absolutely I've earned this title I've
earned this defend it and this a big
fight you got to kill me yeah to take
this yeah and and it's in your hometown
and I put yeah and I put all this weight
on and then I'm dragging all this white
back off me the training count were
terrible I wanted to be away from you
know from chef field and just be
completely naturally focused on this
fight and were you away from
shiffer no you know so if you wanted to
be because like having been problems
with having problems with me trainer you
know getting getting things you know he
yeah personal problems and you know it
was everything is wrong everything was
wrong for that fight everything were
wrong
but you know I
got I got to the fight we were getting
close to the fight we had me Dad and
everyone you know saying you need to
pull out this fight right you need to
pull out but you know the fighter and
selling all these tickets and training
and in my own mind I'm thinking I've
fight I'm going to make this way I'm
going to I've got a fight you know I'm a
fire you know but looking back that
would be one fight that I wish that I
would have um pulled out of and extended
the the you know the fight yeah you just
mentioned a moment ago about the effect
that this fight has on you you can live
with the Golovkin loss yeah this one
kicks you out of the ass because this is
the belt this isn't I you probably know
that you weren't in the best condition
going into this fight so you probably
cross with yourself as well yeah I'm I'm
just correct me I'm speaking for you but
you can correct me any time absolutely
correct
um does this start a spiral for you to
some extent I mean you lose you lose
this title does this is this the
starting of certain thought processes in
your head about where you are and what
you're doing in your life or is it just
a fight that you've that you've very
happy that you've lost it creates a
negative reaction in
you but you're able to come back from
you know I didn't know I did question
myself after that fight I'm I'm a really
good enough and you know what started to
think shall I retire you know I I a
really low point in my life you know my
career you know you 29 20 29 30 around
that age yeah yeah still very young I
just thought you know
um losing it in my weight category you
know against against against him you
know it's obviously it's another thing
to swallow when when you've when you
believe in yourself and you you're a
world champion you know you you at the
my lowest part of my career at that time
you come back you get yourself together
and you're now Landing eventually
relatively shortly afterwards against
terce Crawford and now what we know
about Crawford and and Erol Spence and
the perception of two of being two of
the greatest pound-for-pound at their
time Crawford's obviously just done a
number on Spence recently yeah um and
we'd seen Crawford come over here and no
one had quite really understood and
Ricky Burns had got done up like a
Kipper by by um Crawford and everyone
seen this you go in against Crawford now
this is a much more difficult fight you
for you is this I mean I'll be blunt
Kell is this levels you're in this fight
at this stage in your
career there's no I'm being blunt right
you might not like it level at all
because this is a this is a one-sided
fight you have a little bit don't if
it's one-sided is it what do you mean by
one you tell me how you think it's
one-sided um I
thought every round you think it's
one-sided and they weren't that many
rounds were they they weren't that many
rounds but what I would just totally out
class from round one I think there was a
level in that fight now I'm not
suggesting that Kell Brook and his pump
couldn't be at that level I'm suggesting
killbook that's gotten beaten up by Gard
Golovkin that's got damag done to him by
all Spence
is not the Kell Brook that beat Shawn
Porter and that puts Kell Brook into
into difficulty when you're fighting
someone of the caliber of Terrence
craford you had to be on your aame I
didn't have to be on the aame
but will you tell me about to fight them
as opposed to my my little analysis
which you know better than me because
you were there yeah I were there
definitely there we're in lockdown AR we
we're in lockdown MH I had a I had a
trainer what you know I'd never train
train me before who who who spoke very
little English well that was a useful
decision it make that choice for well it
would it were lock down not like I had
to Dominic wouldn't go go away to Spain
cuz he didn't know if he were going to
get back and we all know how bad
lockdown were we not yeah yeah yeah so I
had to just deal with situation what
what I could how I could you know um of
course as we know now he's would have to
put Terence Crawford down is as one of
the best fighters at this current in
state boxing you know I
never I felt like he were he were like a
he were like a surgeon I don't like
don't for don't forget when you're
dealing with Fighters what what are
champions like it's it's not nice to
hear you say that you think he's levels
above like levels
like not per se but I'm just saying to
you but he he were unbelievable fighter
as we know you know I felt that you know
but he's that good that he he salp his
Orthodox he caught me with a shot it's
never happened in my career you know I
got caught with a shot you know if I had
a better preparation If I Were Me Were
Me original trainer if I done things
differently how do we we don't know I'm
not listen I'm always going to say that
you know I can beat any fighter but this
guy this guy's a very special fighter he
he he walked out first round in as a
salvor and is's an off for he can switch
it he's like Ron in snooker he's the
bollocks yeah you know and this is the
world against you know so we're not
really then we're splitting airs in
aren't we because you're saying he's a
very special fighter a very
special level you are I didn't say you
weren't right and but you're bristling
at me suggesting that there's levels and
I'm just curious why you'd bristle
because by your own adion maybe maybe
it's because you have the right to say
it and I don't yeah it's just it's just
daring it like cuz I'm a winner and just
daring someone saying that like beneath
me it's just hard to we but like I
didn't say that I know I know you didn't
just like your levels like you know I
don't like like toar it I couldn't do
what you do so it doesn't I promise you
mate it doesn't come from a position of
disrespect it just comes from a blunt
assessment that you can have a different
view on them we can all disagree you
know what's you know what went on okay
we land in the am Khan space
um after years
of calling him out or let's say other
people suggesting it right but I've
heard you calling him out as well right
this fight gets
made and it catches the Public's
imagination
um you talked about not particularly
resenting other Fighters or not being
resentful or not having a particular
distaste or dislike for anybody that
you've been in a ring for this Dynamic
is slightly different isn't
it yeah it is tell me about
it when people say I hate him or I just
I just hated I hated that he he kept cuz
it was just bugging me wherever I went
people always brought it up that was
just the thing to say when you're
finding me a can't you know I was sick
of it I was sick of that I couldn't
provide that fight for him and and it
wasn't my fault it were it were you
think he DED you I think he 100% don't
matter why do you think he duck you cuz
I just think
that it it's different when you when you
lose to like Canelo or abroad to to like
or manip
Pacquiao that you know you can you can
say well at least you know I've like but
if you lose a domestic fight to one of
your own domestic fight you know that
there's a lot more pressure a lot more
pressure and and and it's hard to deal
with and I think that I don't think he's
scared he's not scared of me but he's
scar he's scared of that that that right
scared of that right and and some of the
things that were said over the years
about what he did didn't do to you at
the early stages of when you met one
another in gyms and now he schooled you
that just fueled it a little bit
irritated you it just fueled it you know
it's just it were a big it were a big
buildup for many years many years and um
and we did we eventually did get there
and what I loved about the fight and
like everyone's got their own opinion
like even you I did yeah was wrong you
you were wrong
you know and and and I like it because
that was a fight where people really did
have a 50/50 like you were on his side
like it was like that and that's what
made the fight so interesting appealing
for for the fans even though I knew yeah
you yeah I knew yeah you knew right um
because I remember saying to you you you
you you talked to me on the radio and I
said cuz most people are cowards they
don't say what they really think and
when they got the guy that's in front of
them they go oh yeah I think it'd be you
mate and then behind Clos goes it's not
going to be him I said to you I think he
beats you I think speed and you said
yeah you don't know what you're talking
about timing beats
speed and it did and it
did but do you know when I knew that I
was absolutely wrong when you think sh
when I saw you on the on the on the
stand when I saw you at the weighin and
I saw KH who looked like he'd [ย __ย ]
himself with due respect to Amir and
there was a completely he did didn't
want to be on the stage didn't look like
comfortable and I remember turning
around I thought who I think it was Adam
catcher or someone like that going I can
know I'll put a few quid on KH and I
wish I had now yeah because it just
looked to me like they were two
different animals on that
stage that one that was there to do
business and one that was there CU he
felt he had to be I'd never I'd never
trained for a fight like I did for that
because
why I know but I don't I don't I think
it would because I know that I've box
all these world I box Shawn por but I
will be remembered for that fight Amir
KH and he he's got to live for the rest
of his life knowing that he got beat off
me and that will I I I just I just
wanted to to put 100% in that fire so if
if I did come up short I'd absolutely
there's not there be anything I can
question no excuses no excuses you know
that he a better better man but I knew
that or a better fight I knew that
timeing beat speed all I needed to do is
put put that that effort in which I did
and you can see in the condition I were
in I seriously I took that training camp
no I saw you I saw I saw you on the
stage it was the one-sided beat and you
know it was a oneid because that that
that's what that's what I visioned yeah
do you regret that fight didn't happen
your Prime both of you of course I did
you know because we were both world
champions at the same time you know it
would have been a much bigger fight it
would have been the same outcome would
have been same outcome probably even
quicker yeah okay changing gloves in
rings well I was going to
changing gloves you seen that changing
gloves knocking on me door 3 or 4 in
morning because it wasn't it about the
fact you had feather gloves which a
punch his gloves and he didn't like that
yeah but like Robert Smith signed him
off it were perfect you know you know
store yeah did it everything did you
think there was there was the perception
that he wasn't going to come out of the
dressing room that's what they were
saying to me like Rob Smith and they're
all panicking yeah and I'm like I'm just
I'm just going with going with it you
know but my dad said listen you've got
to change him we're not to get paid yeah
we're not to get paid unless you changed
that your view of him lessened by the
you've mentioned it um and I would have
mentioned it anyway um it's
disappointing to see him tested positive
yeah and the amount of time it took for
that to be discovered that's a different
discussion as well yeah but does it
lessen your view of him no you know I've
got respect for him here KH at listen
I'll being honest you know but you must
have a strong view about drugs in sport
going with it so how can it not lessen
no I'm just saying are you about this I
thought you said how do I feel with it
with KH no yeah no no Amir KH is now in
a category sorry Amir in a category of
being categorized as a drugs cheats yeah
and we've got all this stuff going on
inside the sport we've had all the
conversations about who's doing what
when and why we've got people sitting
there regularly and saying that 60% of
the sports juicing and all this sort of
stuff the sports eating itself in
problems with this scenario someone
eventually going to get hurt from this
yeah it must I don't want to put words
in your mouth but it must you must look
at it and go well that's not adorable is
it well it's it's still even having that
in failing but I honestly truly believe
in me art that he did have no idea that
that that were in his system there is
the reason being is because I can
remember the beginning of this training
like start a negotiation for this set he
made it like made for testing we got
tested that many times and Ne nothing
nothing ever come back and I think that
with this particular drug with what I
know about it that you need to have it
you need to have it over a long period
of time to get the like the benefit or
whatever um and and he' be we're both
getting tested so regular up to the
fight you know and and this were like
this were like
the on the fight like on the fight night
so does have any metabolic benefit it
does have any benefit to me so that
that's the that's the reason why well I
think you're very generous in that
respect honest yeah fair enough to you
you know I'm going to ask you I'm going
to ask you about the episode with
cocaine I've got to ask you the first
question is not about the manner in
which you did it who the [ย __ย ] have you
got around you that you're you're in a
situation where people are taking camera
films I mean I'm not condoning the fact
you did in the first place but I'm not
here to judge you about recreational
drugs you're a big boy you take your own
responsibilities right but who have you
got around you this seems to be a common
theme that you're in situations at 21 at
28 at 36 that people aren't around you
that people aren't around you looking
out for you and looking after you and
saying whoa Kell you you're you're
you're you're doing a line of coke over
there and someone's filming you I
know you know obviously it's best thing
to have happened to me you know what
happened after when I've got myself
right but you know um having someone who
I've been very close with for a long
time
and it and it with his brother you know
bring who filmed you who filmed me
without men lovely you know uh coming
bringing him to my to my home thinking
you know to just me and him like and and
he's and he he just shows you you know
your think you know got love for you and
the clearan you know and he's and he's
going to and film me you know when I've
when I'm at the lowest part of my life
when I'm just in such such a bad dark
place and um and he's done that to me
and and S it to purpose but do people
can people not
see besides your immediate family that
will struggle with what you're dealing
with as well because they're on the
receiving end of perhaps some of the way
you feel about the
world but do you not do you could not
people not around you important people
people that have been in your life
people that have been um influential in
your
life could they not see
the challenges that were coming your way
or or you just won't
listen probably probably mix both
probably mixure both I won't listen cuz
it's a feeling you know it's a feeling I
have and you know um sometime with young
young young kids when when when the
older generation are talking to them
because they know better yeah go in one
year and that other you know so it would
just it it's been a part of my life but
but you know I'm not I'm not how are you
now [ย __ย ] how are you now I'm I'm I'm I'm
very good now I'm in a good place I'm
I'm happy in sa Bri and right I you know
I I feel so I have a lot better
relationship with my family my children
you know the important things life the
important things in life we've got total
I'm I'm utterly connected you know and
and and I'm I'm I'm in a very good place
so with that in mind what's going on
with you I'm
hearing Connor Ben Chris Eubank
Jr well I'm getting a bit bored AR I
right okay I'm getting a bit bored and
I'm thinking you
know you know I didn't know what it
would like to retire but listen
it's I just look at these Fighters now
just thing you know I can beat these
guys and like just that I love a
challenge I love I love competition I
love getting myself in good shape I love
I love I love the D I love the OD
training I love the odd spars I love I
love it when people like yourself don't
think I can winfy and I go out well I
was wrong right I was wrong happy to
cough to it I love could I yeah I love
that you know I love it
and I just love that I love that
challenge I love that challenge and you
know I'm I'm I'm retired but you know I
I could I could come back for them kind
of fights if you're if you're confronted
I mean you you say you're retired you
say you're together now which I'm
pleased to hear um and you know you're
coping with the reality of no longer
being a fighter and being able to
balance it off against the challenges
that you have when fighting
finishes but you leave it with a butt
which is if these fights could be made
Kell Brook is a name Kell Brook sells
Kell Brook Kell Brook and KH filled an
auditorium yeah I would imagine that
Kell Brook and Chris Eubank Jr would
fill an
auditorium don't know what a weight
class though
160 whatever whatever or or Connor
Bennett your old welterweight if one of
these fights if the fights were in the
mix which one would you would like which
one would you like to have and
realistically speaking is it something
that you think probably realistic
prefer to fight Chris yank would you
just just because because it's easier
than the wait for you no it's not easier
to wait it's just St just don't like him
he's so arrogant and he's he's he'd be
I'd get through a training camp a lot
easier because I'd be Fu
just you know as in do you think he's AR
I I think he's arrogant just it's bu
what goes through me just the way he is
it's [ย __ย ] is it is just he just
grinds at me so bad he's
just I don't know if it's cuz he's he's
smarter than me I don't know but he's I
don't know he can sell itself very good
he does do that fair enough he's got
some like but I just don't like the kid
there's something honestly I dislike him
more than a Mia really I swear to you
there something about the kid H his does
it start from him saying you quit or
just because you don't like the fact
what he says and what he does it's just
does and AR is and uh he just just about
him how he comes across is just horrible
do you think that fight can be
made yeah you do I think it could be
made you know I'm willing to fight you
know let's let's just see what what can
come from it you've heard it here well
I'd like to see
it and I'd like to beat him
up and I have to be honest Kell I'd like
to see him up as well well I'm happy
about that but listen anyway Kell I've
really enjoyed speaking to you you've
been very upfront and thank you for
joining me on up thank
you UPF front with me Simon Jordan is
brought to you by William Hill future
episodes can be found on YouTube Spotify
or wherever you find your podcasts 18
plus please gamble
responsibly
Browse More Related Video
Quaresma: "O selecionador que me deixou mais desiludido foi o Paulo Bento"
โLooks Like A Hostageโ - Ryan Garcia Releases Strange Video Following Bizarre Social Media Posts
Fabricio Werdum - The Rise of One of UFC's Biggest Names | American Latino
CICINHO | Podcast Denรญlson Show #99
Hopelessness to Purpose | THIS IS MY STORY | NAIM
Official Boo on Being White & Coming Up in a Black Hood
Gue Punya Cerita - Awas Salah Pergaulan - SEASON 1
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)