As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, Amir Khan vehemently denied Terence Crawford's accusation that he quit in their WBO welterweight title bout after receiving a low blow from the champion.
Crawford had already floored Khan in the first round when, in the sixth, he caught his opponent with an accidental shot to the groin.
Khan took a couple of minutes to recover before declaring himself unable to continue as he and trainer Virgil Hunter took the decision to end the fight amid boos from the Madison Square Garden crowd in New York City.
Crawford – ahead on all three cards – was awarded a TKO, extending his perfect record to 35-0, and in the subsequent media conference Khan was asked if he had given up.
"I would never quit, I would rather be knocked out. I'm one of those fighters where I'd rather be knocked out in fights," Khan said.
"I have been knocked out in fights because I've tried to win fights."
Khan believes he can still do a showdown with rival Kell Brook, who also felt that his domestic rival quit.
Brook was ringside for the fight and he's more inclined to face Crawford for the WBO belt.
Brook's promoter, Eddie Hearn, has spoken to Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum about ** a deal to face Crawford.
"At this minute [the Khan fight is] dead," Brook exclusively told Starsport.
"He's dissed me, he's rubbed me up the wrong way. If anything, he deserves a slap. He shook my hand and looked at me dead in the eye and he said that I'd be fighting him next, and a week or so later he's decided to fight Crawford.
"All the fans, Matchroom, we had everything there for it to happen and it didn't come off. I've got no time for him. I want to fight the guys that want to fight the best fighters, Crawford wants to fight the best fighters, all the other champions want to fight - so they're the fighters that I want to fight.
"At this minute in time, I'm hunting for a top champion. I've got no scheduled fight, so I'm gonna be back in training and looking for a top contender."
2023-10-23 03:17:59
