Oviri Kelvin, Sports Editor, Abuja
Kelly Brook accepts using foul language on Amir Khan but denies being a racist after the latter had accused him of using a phrase that is subjected to racial abuse to qualify his person.
Khan, who made taunting comments about Brook’s sexuality, said that the phrase ‘poppadum chin’ is racial.
Brook had accepted his usage of the phrase but denounced being a racist.
In his response to the allegation by Khan, he said, “I regret the language I used but I am not a racist”.
The Pakistani, who was born and raised in the United Kingdom, noted that the comments made by Brook were racially abusive.
According to Sky Sports, Khan kicked against the excuses given by Brook because in the first instance such racial comments should not be used.
The Bolton-born fighter revealed he does not have an amicable relationship with Brook, noting that the fight between both of them will classify who is better.
He said, “His excuse was not good enough. It should not be said. Things like that should not be said. This is a sport and we have to respect each other.
“Before the fight, we don’t get on, we don’t respect each other, but come fight night, that will be the time when we will see who the better fighter is. But before anything like that when a race gets involved, it just messes things up and I’m quite upset he came out with that comment,” he added.
Furthermore, Khan, according to the PA news agency, accused Brook of using comments which have racial connotations.
He added that he had respected Brook until he used racially abusive comments against him.
Khan noted that Brook is someone people look up to as a role model and should not be associated with racial comments.
He stated that in the 21 century, racism should be denounced but it amazes him to know that it is still in existence.
He said, “It’s so sad he had to come out with a comment like that.
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“I respected him as a fighter. That’s gone out the window now. I thought maybe after the fight we could be friends, I don’t want to be his friend.
“People look up to Kell Brook, he’s on the biggest stage of his career. The reason we have to talk about this and get it out there is so people realise giving racial [abuse] should not happen and we are totally against it.
“Everyone needs to be on that and say ‘it shouldn’t happen. People shouldn’t be racist, especially in this day and age, come on. We’re in the 21st century and we shouldn’t hear anything racial now. But it is still out there,” Khan added.
Regrettably, Brooks denied being a racist but stated he only used the words to describe the splittery of Khan’s chin.
According to him, Khan is trying to tag him as a racist which he is not because his acquaintances are mostly Asian.
He said, “He’s obviously going down the line of me being racist. Most of my close friends are Asian.
“The original Amir Khan was going to be in my corner so he’s obviously wanting to get the people thinking I’m racist but I’m absolutely not.
“All I was saying was how fragile the poppadom is and his chin is brittle like that. Looking back now I regret it. There’s nothing behind it,” he added.
Meanwhile, Khan was alleged to have used homophobic language to describe Brook’s sexuality during a news conference that stirred up disagreements but the fighter denied it.
Nevertheless, Khan, who had earlier in 2018 taunted Brook about his sexuality, rejected the option of tendering an apology because according to his camp, his comment is much in line.
More so, a sports promoter has condemned the racial and homophobic usage of comments between both fighters which is against the ethics of the game.
Shalom said, “There is absolutely no room for racism or homophobia anywhere, never mind in boxing which is the biggest equalising sport that we’ve ever seen.
“Once you get in the ring, it brings communities together and brings diversity into sport. We have reminded both guys that there is no room for it. I’m disappointed with them,” he said.
Adam Smith who is the head of boxing development in sky sport condemned the comments used by both fighters who he said have let themselves down.
He said, “It was uncomfortable being up there, it was unsavoury, very unprofessional, and just wrong of both fighters today.
“We’ve had such a great build-up and it’s been fantastic to see the line not crossed, and now they’ve let themselves down badly today and there’s no in boxing for anything like that – racist, homophobic slurs – terrible.
“I’ve been speaking to Robert Smith, the general secretary of the British Board of Boxing Control, who likewise was horrified by it, and he said that he will go and speak to both camps straight away.
“We’ve got plans in place tomorrow (Friday) to make sure that the fighters are kept apart, aside from one face-to-face, and just calm everybody down, because there are high emotions, they’re making weight, it’s an itchy time for the fighters but they let themselves down,” he added.
Khan and Brook would put an end to their over a decade of rivalry on Saturday 19 when they meet in the ring to prove who is the better fighter.
