Terence Crawford’s manager has warned that Kell Brook will prove stiffer competition than Amir Khan.
Bryan McIntyre will see his fighter defend his WBO welterweight title against Britain’s Brook on Saturday, Dec. 14 in Las Vegas.
Crawford goes into the fight as the favourite, and may fancy his chances further as Brook is fighting at a weight he has not competed at for three years. Further complicating matters are his split from manager Eddie Hearn and trainer Dominic Ingle.
McIntyre is expecting a tough fight from Brook, comparing him favourably with Khan, who lost to Crawford in April 2019.
In a blog for MyBettingSites.co.uk, McIntyre said: “Brook should be a tougher test than Khan."
“He hasn’t been knocked out like Khan has, he hasn’t been taken away on a stretcher. Brook has been able to walk out of the ring.
“He’s a bit more rugged on the edges. Khan can be considered kind of soft, but Brook is rough. He likes to get into rough fights and likes to fight his way to the end.
“This is a type of competition Bud is looking for, he needs someone to push him, to make him better, the better the fighter the better the Terence.”
Nevertheless, McIntyre still expects an easy win for the 33-year-old champion.
“Bud probably could [retire him]. Bud ruins guys' careers,” he claimed.
“Not many fighters come back after Bud. I wouldn’t be surprised if Brook retired. If he can make it out unscathed he’ll probably come back, but if he gets in there and gets banged up pretty bad it might be the end for him.
“We believe Terence will dominate this kid.”
Referencing the upheaval in Brook’s professional life, McIntyre can see the changes being both a help and a hindrance for the 34-year-old Briton. Wondering whether he would have taken the fight if he were Brook, he said: “I probably wouldn’t have recommended it.
“If he hasn’t got the right trainer and he’s only got six weeks, I’d probably say no, he shouldn’t take the fight, you up in weight a little, so maybe he shouldn’t.
“But he has got nothing to lose and he’s going to come out there swinging from balls to walls trying to knock Terence out. He’s dangerous.
“If Brook is willing to fight Bud it shows me Brooks’ will and determination. He hasn’t fought at 147 for three years, he’s going to have to work his tail off to get down in weight and fight for another title, that shows me he’s determined and coming to fight.”