Joel Diaz, trainer to Timothy Bradley has told Behind the Gloves that Amir Khan rejected a title eliminator against his fighter. Diaz recalls the conversation he had with Bradley stating that he is in a title eliminator now after Khan rejected the offer.
“He said [Bradley] you know what’s going on right? I said no. He [Bradley] goes so King Khan didn’t want to fight me so now I’m fighting an eliminator. I said wow.” Diaz told Behind the Gloves.
Amir Khan has stated that there was no approach from the IBF regarding the title eliminator, although the IBF commented that an official approach was made in which Khan refused the fight. Khan Promotions will be seeking legal advice over this matter. The confusion arises as the IBF had not stated a specific contact that told them that Khan was not willing to fight for the eliminator.
Diaz also refuted any claims that Bradley ducked Khan when both fighters were fighting at light welterweight. At the time Bradley was the champion and Diaz says that Bradley never said that he would never fight Khan.
Diaz told Behind the Gloves, “He’s lying about all the stuff he’s saying. We never had so much issues going on. We never had big conversations. All it was at the time was, Tim would you fight Khan, yes [said Bradley]. I remember the amount of money they were offering Tim at the time and it was a slap in the face. Tim asked them, give me so much [money], and I’ll fight him and they were like we can’t. Tim was like why not, it’s a big fight. It wasn’t that Tim didn’t want to fight him but there was not much being offered to Tim at the time.”
“Tim was always willing to fight Khan but negotiations between promoters didn’t happen. From his part and my part as head of the team I was more than happy and glad back then and now [to take the fight]” Diaz said.
– Oun Abbas Hussain /@ouney86
– UK Correspondent for Behind the Gloves
Leave a Reply