The man who might be able to influence Amir Khan v Kell Brook

Certainly the rival camps are making an almighty hash of it. Ten million dollars are on the table for Khan, but that’s not enough. Brook says Khan “makes him laugh” in the way he is “dictating” terms in the negotiations. Even slick promotional executive Eddie Hearn admits the two sides are as far away as they have ever been.

One man may hold the key.

Adam Smith, Head of Sky Boxing, is a man of integrity, diplomacy and above all impartiality. An influential mover behind the scenes, by the looks of it.

While he always chooses his words with concentrated diplomacy, Smith is also prepared to challenge both sides when he feels they are wrong.

He disagrees with Hearn and Brook, for instance, when they suggest Khan’s fear of being beaten is the reason why a deal for June 4 has yet to be signed off.

Smith has worked alongside some pretty complex egos: fighters like Naseem Hamed, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Roy Jones Jr, Tyson Fury and Floyd Mayweather.

Speaking in Sheffield this week, Smith revealed he had been in America discussing the possibility of a Khan v Brook fight with TV giants Showtime.

They want to broadcast the fight over there, as does Sky here, he said. “I think Amir Khan does want the fight...money - that’s what it comes down to” he said.

“The ball is in his court” he said adding there was not much more Brook’s side could do,

“There are 12 world champions in Britain and Amir Khan isn’t one of them” said Smith saying there were other mouth-watering fights out there for Brook, like the winner of Keith Thurman v Shawn Porter.

“But the one we want to see is Amir Khan” he stressed. “He wants it, or at least he tells me he does. I think they will share a ring, I think it will happen. It would be of the magnitude of Froch v Groves. There is a ton of money too be made.

“The fight should be made for the good of the British public.”