After sparring each other earlier in their career, it seemed inevitable that Kell Brook and Amir Khan would meet once both men established themselves at world level, but for one reason or another, the wait goes on for the duo to square off in what would go down as one of the biggest fights in the history of British boxing.
However, this weekend sees the pair attempt to take another stride towards making a showdown at Wembley next summer become a reality. On Friday evening, Khan faces American Chris Algieri in New York to try to move in line for a clash with Floyd Mayweather Jr in September, before Brook defends his IBF welterweight title against Frankie Gavin at London's O2 Arena on Saturday night.
Below, Sports Mole assesses both fights and attempts to pick a winner from the two bouts taking place either side of the pond.
1. Amir Khan vs. Chris Algieri
For the past two years, Khan has been repeatedly linked with a meeting with Mayweather, and the former Olympic silver medallist has made no secret of the fact that he wants to step into the ring with the pound-for-pound king. However, after continuing to be rejected by the unbeaten American, Khan has been forced to go another route to try to achieve his dream fight and although he is frequently questioned about his choice of opponents, the Bolton fighter believes that he is just one win away from facing Mayweather in September.
That remains to be seen, but after generating plenty of momentum from his dazzling performances against Luis Collazo and Devon Alexander in 2014, Khan must find a way to impress against someone that he is expected to beat with relative ease. Rightly or wrongly, Algieri hasn't been given much chance of prevailing at the Brooklyn Center, but like Khan, he is a former world light-welterweight champion and deserves more respect than he has received in the build-up.
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In June last year, the 31-year-old pulled off a considerable upset in beating the relentless Ruslan Provodnikov. Algieri was hurt twice in the fight and his triumph was disputed, but he got the decision that catapulted him into a lucrative match with Manny Pacquiao in Macau. Algieri was completely overwhelmed in that bout, being knocked down on six occasions on the way to a lop-sided points loss, but he can claim to have avoided being stopped by two relatively big punchers, despite hitting the canvas eight times.
That's the challenge that lies in wait for Khan, because he must show that he brings the punch power to accompany his other attributes. It's been almost four years since Khan stopped a world-level opponent and the longer that wait goes on, more questions will arise regarding his ability to overcome the best at 147lbs. If Khan can't stop Algieri, the likes of Mayweather, Brook and Keith Thurman won't fear him, regardless of his hand speed, footwork and general ring craft.
First and foremost, Khan must avoid any complacency against Algieri. The American is the underdog, but his height, reach and movement could make it awkward for Khan. However, everything is on the line for Khan in this fight, and if he approaches it in the correct manner, a fast start could lead to Algieri being reckless down the stretch, giving Khan his opportunity to inflict the first stoppage defeat of his opponent's career.
2. Kell Brook vs. Frankie Gavin
After riding a crest of a wave after claiming the IBF belt against Shawn Porter last August, it was feared that Brook had lost all of his momentum when he was stabbed in the leg during a holiday in Tenerife, but the Sheffield fighter dispelled any doubts over his fitness and mindset with a one-sided destruction of mandatory challenger Jo Jo Dan, who was helpless to prevent Brook from making a statement to the rest of the division.
Initially, the plan had been for Brook to return in July, potentially against Brandon Rios, but the contest that he craved was Khan at Wembley Stadium. Despite all the talk surrounding a possible dust-up, it never came close to materialising, and with Brook opting to fight in May, Gavin was considered to be the logical opponent after he had earlier been placed in an eliminator to face the champion at a later date.
With Brook unbeaten as a professional and Gavin a former world amateur champion who has only suffered one loss in the paid ranks, Saturday's bout throws up a number of questions. From Brook's perspective, only a stoppage win will do as he looks to increase his stock at 147lbs, while for Gavin, it's an opportunity to realise a dream as well as a chance to prove to the public that he deserves to be ranked alongside the likes of Brook and Khan in the upper echelons of the world rankings.
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This is effectively a crossroads fight for Gavin who faces the prospect of falling out of contention if he can't put on a good showing in London. The Birmingham man has admitted himself that it will require a career-best performance to overcome Brook, but given the right platform, those close to the 29-year-old believe that he will begin to display the skills that see him stand out as the only Englishman to win gold at the World Amateur Championships.
For Brook, another ruthless win would see him further elevated into discussions for bouts with the likes of Thurman and Pacquiao within the next nine months before a potential clash with Khan. Being linked with so many star names, as well as the money that comes with those opponents, could prove to be a distraction for Brook, but it could also act as motivation to establish himself among the elite who currently question his standard of opposition.
With the quality of fights taking place on the undercard, this encounter hasn't received the attention that it may have done, but Brook and Gavin are headlining a pay-per-view card and come 10.30pm on Saturday, nerves and ability to handle the big occasion will play their part. Brook has more leeway to ease himself into the fight, but it's imperative that Gavin starts strongly to impose his style and gameplan on proceedings or else he may find himself struggling to cope with the size and power of the champion.
