Amir Khan says Kell Brook fight would not be happening unless he obeyed wife order to hire McIntyre

Amir Khan would not be fighting Kell Brook in his grudge match at the Manchester Arena unless he had obeyed his wife’s orders to hire the trainer of the American superstar who beat him in his last big fight.

Even though the feisty Bryan McIntyre hurled insults at her husband before pound for pound champion Terence Crawford stopped him with a low blow almost three years ago, Faryal Khan said she would not permit Amir to fight Brook unless he trained properly.

And ‘training properly’ included going to Crawford’s gym in Omaha, Nebraska and, as he puts it now: ‘Being pushed beyond limits I never thought I would even be able to reach.’

Amir Khan (left) says he would not be fighting Kell Brook unless he hired Bryan McIntyre (right)

The boxer said his wife Faryal (right) insisted he would have to gear up for the fight properly

He also spent some weeks training at altitude in the Colorado mountains, which also had Mrs K’s blessing.

Khan has reached the late stage of his career in which he does not agree to yet another fight without his wife’s approval. 

He says: ‘Faryal is concerned for me and decides whether I should fight again. She knew I wanted to finally deal with Kell after all the insults but her condition was that I had to go work in Crawford’s gym.

McIntyre took charge of Terence Crawford’s preparations ahead of him beating Khan in 2019

‘I wasn’t thrilled at first as there were a lot harsh words when I fought Terence. But I was in Dubai and she talked with McIntyre who agreed to take me on. 

‘Then she called me to say it was all organised and that she would only let me fight Kell if I went over there and did the job properly.

‘I’ve never worked so hard in my entire career. You’re not being pushed by one trainer. There’s three. Between them they watch over everything you do. 

Khan will look to settle his grudge with fierce rival Brook (right) in Manchester this weekend

‘Whether it’s sparring or just hitting the punch ball they keep saying one more, one more, one more. There were times when I felt like giving up but I kept telling myself I wouldn’t let them break me. Now I thank them. At 35 I’m in the best shape of my life.’

And when he is pressed on whether once he has finished his long-delayed business with Brook he will retire he says: ‘If I prove this weekend what I’m saying about my condition, I will ask Faryal if I can go on for one more fight. Maybe two.’

Brook is not so clear about whether he will hang up the gloves, win or lose, but does insist: ‘I’ve done all the hard miles as well. Khan thinks I’m half-broken (after both eye sockets were fractured in damaging fights) but that is the biggest mistake of his life.’