Kell Brook and Amir Khan are both back in the ring in the early exchanges of 2018 and fight fans hope it’s only a matter of time before the pair face off in a grudge match.

It’s an argument that splits opinion in the fight game. Who wins – Brook or Khan? In fact, why haven’t they already fought? Who doesn’t fancy it? With Amir Khan recently signing a deal with promoter Eddie Hearn, the same captain steering his rivals’ ship, the bout has never been closer.

Who’s your money on if the pair do meet in 2018? A flick through the latest boxing odds suggests it would be a close-run thing, with Brook just edging it. Do you agree, or are you still on the fence? Let’s take a closer look at both gladiators and what they bring to the table.

Source: Kell Brook via Twitter

Kell Brook – The gambler

Special K went into 2018 with his career hanging by a thread. The 5ft 9inch southpaw’s time at 147lbs looks to be up and he has now contested professional titles at welterweight, super welterweight (light-middle in old money) and middleweight.

In the summer of 2016, Kell Brook was an undefeated world champion with the world at his feet – ready to take on all comers. It was that gameness that was about to cost him everything. The talented switch-hitter took a gamble when jumping up two divisions to take on the most devastating puncher in boxing history – Gennady Golovkin. The gamble blew up in his face, quite literally.

Brook was stopped in five rounds at London’s 02 Arena, his corner throwing in the towel knowing their fighter had bitten off more than he could chew. A broken eye socket was later revealed to be the damaged suffered and that injury continues to haunt him, stopped next time out by Errol Spence Jr with the same problem.

Pros – Awkward style, great movement, power in both hands, switch-hitter, attacks from angles.

Cons – Injury, confidence low, stopped twice in-a-row, slowing down, trouble making weight.

Source: Matchroom Boxing via Twitter

Amir Khan – Making up for lost time

King Khan was a recognised world champion at super lightweight but is another who foolishly stepped up to mix it with the big boys, beaten into submission in six rounds by power-punching Saul Alvarez. That 2016 bloodbath was the Bolton boy’s fourth career defeat – Breidis Prescott, Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia – three of those reverses coming inside-the-distance.

There has never been any dispute that Khan is a supremely talented boxer but it’s his inability to hold a shot that has stopped him becoming a great of the modern game, the star never really getting over that early KO at the hands of Prescott way back in 2008. Think Khan and you automatically picture him fumbling around the canvas looking like he had been hit by a train.

Others believe the 5ft 8inch orthodox has been out of the picture too long, a string of personal problems leaving him idle for two years between Canelo in May 2016 and his comeback at the Echo Arena in April 2018. Khan last won a world title way back in 2011 when beating an ageing Zab Judah in Las Vegas. Has his ship sailed? He spent years telling fans he didn’t need the fight with Brook – he does now, that’s for sure.

Pros – Fast hands, great footwork, combination punching, top-level experience, fitness

Cons – Punch resistance, inactive, chaotic personal life, past his best, shattered confidence