THERE is still time to the blockbuster bout between Amir Khan and Kell Brook, but the tickets of the fight have already been sold out.
The fight on February 19 at the Manchester AO Arena next year will eventually see their rivalry settled as the tickets for the event have sold out in just 10 minutes, making it one of the fastest-selling events not only in British boxing history but in the whole of British sporting history.
Last week's presale saw a ratio of six fans for a single ticket and when Friday's presale opened, it was sold out in just four minutes.
The scene was similar on Monday (13) when a final batch of tickets went on sale to the general public, and six minutes later after the public sale began, the event was officially declared a sell-out.
Boxxer, who are the promoters, now lay claim to the record sell-out for an indoor UK event and fastest sell-out for a UK boxing event.
“We knew we could sell the arena out a few times over but the demand for tickets has been mind-blowing. The arena told us this event is ‘bigger than Bieber’,” said Ben Shalom, BOXXER’s founder and CEO.
“The level of national interest in this fight is just off the scale - it’s the biggest British battle in decades. We’re looking forward to an electric night on February 19 for what will be an iconic and legacy-defining fight in front of a sold-out arena and televised live and exclusively on Sky Sports Box Office," he added.
The rivalry between the two boxers goes back to their teenage days, when a 17-year-old Khan was selected ahead of Brook to represent Team GB at the 2004 Olympics. Khan won a silver medal in that Games.
Khan’s professional resume includes tenure as the unified light-welterweight world champion and Commonwealth lightweight champion, while Brook is the former British welterweight champion and former IBF world welterweight champion.
Since their amateur days there has been tensions between the two British boxers and prior to the fight heated words have already been exchanged, but February's bout will settle the rivalry once and for all.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)