Amir Khan: ‘I used beat Kell Brook up with one hand tied behind my back’

Amir Khan has claimed that Kell Brook is bitter towards him because he used to give Brook “beating” with one with one hand tied behind his back.

Khan opened up about sparring sessions he used to have with the IBF world welterweight champion ahead of the 2004 Athens games.

“I met him [Brook] when I was in the Olympic camp. Even though we were around about the same age, he was in the junior camp and I was in the senior camp. He was like my junior,” Khan told Fight Hype.

“I used to use him [Brook] as my sparring partner. I used to tie one hand behind my back, and they used to say just use the jab against him [Brook].”

The Bolton-born boxer also revealed that he was cautioned by his coaches to hold back on Brook to avoid hurting the fighter.

“I was only allowed to use one hand, the team England coaches said to me ‘Amir, spar with Kell Brook you’re only allowed to throw five right hands in this round’,” he added.

“So I used to school him, I used to just play with him, and that’s literally what I used to do. I’d just play with him, hit him and make him miss. I was never allowed to open up because I was the better fighter and I used to always hurt him.

“I think that’s why he’s so bitter, [because of] them beatings he took off me – that’s why he’s like ‘I want some type of revenge, I want to fight Amir,’ and he knows it’s big money.”

He continued: “If we’re taking this fight, three years ago, it would not be worth the money it is now. Now is the time I think the fight is going to be big and it’s going to be worth a lot of money.

“Let him get passed his big fights, I won’t him to focus on what he has in front of him and maybe that fight happens.”

Khan also states that Brook had to wear protective boxing gear before stepping into the ring with him.

“When we sparred I’d school him, he used to wear a head guard, the body protectors and small gloves, I used to wear the big gloves so I don’t hurt him and no head guard.

“He was all padded-up head to toe, just so he doesn’t get beats but I’d still get them shots in.

“It used to be in the training camps in Sheffield at the EIS Olympic training camp and he [Brook] used to come in with his dad Terry bouncing around and after the first spar he never bounced around again, he’d just walk in and walk out.”

The Olympic silver-medallist also claimed that he has always a level above the Sheffield-born boxer.

“I won every national tournament I went to apart from the Olympics, the junior Olympics, the world championships, the European championships and the Asian championships. I won every tournament I was in. And not only that but winning the best boxer of the tournament as well.

“Kell Brook was never there, when he [Brook] talks about how he used to beat me up in sparring, [well] if it was true, then they would’ve picked him for the Olympics.

“I should’ve recorded that, I should’ve recorded those videos when he was like a pillow all padded up and stuff,” Khan continues.

The former world champion would view any bout against Brook as opportunity to prove that he Britain’s superior welterweight.

“I think if this fight happens, I’d just put a stop to everything, I’d just put a stop to him and show the world who the best welterweight in the UK is.”