Kell Brook was able to stop Amir Khan in the sixth round of their grudge match on Saturday. The referee had to step and stop the fight, saving Khan from Brook’s unrelenting onslaught. The fight, which fans had been looking forward to for so many years now, brought an end to a feud that had lasted for almost 20 years, with Brook as the victor. But the two boxers embraced each other at the end of the bout. After the match, Khan said that he has lost love for boxing, which is a sign that he might announce his retirement soon.

The fight started with Khan having the upper hand, although Brook was not completely helpless, as he forced Khan to stagger twice in the first round. Khan had more speed, which was his major advantage. In the rounds that followed the first, Khan pressed his opponent and blocked some of his punches.

It was in the fifth round that the dynamics of the fight began to change, with Khan unable to defend himself properly. This allowed Brook’s hits to get to him with almost no resistance. Khan, however, managed to make it to the end of the fight. The sixth round presented another story for Khan, who was saved by the referee, less than one minute into the round. Brook was the only one punching and doing damage, before the referee’s intervention.

The fight ended in a way many people never imagined, especially those at the venue, who were mostly Khan’s supporters, as evident by boos towards Brook before the fight started. Regardless of how it ended, it is interesting that the fight held at all. Although it would reflect on their professional record, and it would count as Brook’s win, it would not diminish the fact that Khan is one of the best British boxers ever. After the fight, Khan hinted that his retirement could be around the corner: “I’ve had 40 fights, winning two world titles, fighting in America and around the world. I need to sit down with my family. But it is more towards the end of my career. The love for the sport isn’t there anymore.”

Written by: Leon Osamor