Amir Khan vs. Kell Brook — After all these years, why now and why does it matter?

Time has not diminished the animosity between Amir Khan and Kell Brook. After six years of talk, fight fans — specially in the United Kingdom — will finally get to see the welterweights clash on Saturday. From 2016 to 2018 it appeared that the English rivals were on a collision course, but time and again their careers have taken different routes.

A bout between the two has always seemed a natural fight to make. The 35-year-olds live about 50 miles apart, they have operated at the same weight class since 2014 and openly admit their displeasure with the other. But disputes over purse splits, options for bigger fights and egos have gotten in the way.

Khan (34-5, 21 KOs), from Bolton, believes the rivalry is one-sided and driven by Brook’s “hate and jealousy.”

“There’s no rivalry between us from my end,” Khan told ESPN. “I just feel like it’s just another fight for me, another day at the office, he’s just from England like me and talks a lot. He hates me because he envies me and wanted to do what I did in boxing. A lot of people out there want to see him shut up because you have seen how quickly the fight has sold out.”

Khan gained popularity by appearing in the mainstream reality TV show I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2017, but says his ability and hard work got him where he is and points to his total commitment to the sport for his achievements.

“I’m dedicated to this sport but I don’t think he was ever dedicated enough,” Khan said. “He thinks he should have gotten the…