Kell Brook is just about favoured to beat Amir Khan if the two finally meet in the ring, with Eddie Hearn hopeful of putting together the fight the British boxing public badly want to see.
Khan returned from a long absence to demolish Phil Lo Greco after just 40 seconds in Liverpool on Saturday – and immediately called out Brook, who was ringside for the fight.
There’s no love lost between these two fighters but despite verbals being traded for years, punches have yet to be thrown to decide who the better boxer really is.
Khan wasted no time in calling out Brook after the fight, but delivered his message and then swiftly exited the ring.
"I will fight Kell Brook and I will beat Kell Brook,” Khan said on Sky Sports after the fight. “I'm a better fighter and a stronger fighter.
Kell Brook v Amir Khan odds:
"I'm not a fighter to run away. I came to Eddie and signed a deal with your promotional company, Eddie Hearn's Matchroom company. I'm chasing you, remember that.
"The weight is an issue with Kell, I'm a 147lb fighter. I will fight and beat Kell Brook and the world knows it.
“I moved up to 150lb for this fight because I've not been in the ring for two years. That (Brook) fight I'm not rushing and I'm not running away from.”
Kell Brook says he'll 'destroy' Khan
Khan’s swift departure meant he was not face-to-face with Brook when the Sheffield fighter issued his response.
"Amir, come on, Amir," shouted Brook. "All the fans want the fight. I want the fight. If you go in the jungle and chase stars, but when he gets in there with me, I'll make him see stars."
"I'm not Lo Greco, I'm Kell Brook, 'The Special One' and I will deal with him.
"I know he's got very fast hands. I've sparred with him. He's got the fastest hands I've been in with. Timing beats speed, I'm a seasoned pro, I will land that bomb on him, that brownie. I'll destroy him."
Promoter Eddie Hearn now holds the key to staging the fight – if he can get beyond the main sticking point of what weight the two will fight at.
Hearn wants to see Khan v Brook
"I love the Brook-Khan fight, we'll have to see," said Hearn.
"Kell Brook is going to be back in July, he's chasing the 154 [lbs] world champions as well. Amir is chasing world champions at welter, but that fight will always be a big fight.
"I would hate one day for these boys get old, look back and kick themselves for not making that fight.
"I believe the British public want to see Khan against Brook, and we should deliver what the British public want.
"We have to sit down, we have to find a deal, we have to make sure they get well paid.
"They want to bash each other up at the end of the day. Kell Brook doesn't like Amir Khan and Amir Khan doesn't like Kell Brook. This fight should have happened 12 months ago, two years ago, we've still got time."