Kell Brook calls Amir Khan ‘a joker’ who ‘needs a good smack’

There is no love lost between Kell Brook and Amir Khan

Kell Brook has called Amir Khan a "joker" who "needs a good smack" ahead of the Bolton fighter's bout with Terence Crawford at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. Speaking at MSG shortly after the weigh-ins for the fight, the Sheffield native downplayed Khan's chances against the unbeaten Crawford, and criticised Khan for showing disrespect to him by promising a fight and not delivering. "I don't rate them (Khan's chances) very highly, to be honest with you," said Brook. "Even if he boxes the perfect game plan. "Because he does have very fast hands - I'll give him that, he's got very fast hands - I think he'll start the fight reasonably well. "But I think it's just a matter of time before Crawford gets his rhythm, breaks him down and stops him." Brook also shrugged off the possibility of fighting Khan - who he had pushing to fight for years - in the future, regardless of whether he beats Crawford or not. "If Khan wins they get a rematch and I look at Shawn Porter, Errol Spence, Danny Garcia, Keith Thurman, Manny Pacquiao," he said. "I've tried my best to make it happen (with Khan). He shook my hand right here (in Madison Square Garden) and said 'I'm gonna fight you next'. It never happened. He's dissed me in so many ways and I just don't have time for that." Asked whether it would be fair to say that his dislike of Khan is more personal than professional, Brook could not have been more clear. "It's personal because he's a joker who has no respect for me," he added. "He needs a good smack, that's what he needs. He's a joke, he's crossed the line. This is a sport and he's gone too far. He's just a joker and I ain't got time for it." Watch Amir Khan face Terence Crawford exclusively live on BT Sport Box Office, Saturday 20th April. For more information www.bt.com/btsportboxoffice