The much anticipated Amir Khan coming ended up successful when he scored a six round technical decision over Northern Irelands Paul McCloskey. Khan won a unanimous decision 60-54 on all 3 judges cards to retain his WBA Light Welterweight title for the fourth time. Though that only told half the tail. To his credit McCloskey had his moments during the fight.
Both fighters entered the MEN arena in Manchester to a raucous crowd thought to be around 17,000. Firstly McCloskey entered the arena cheered on by thousands of his fans who had travelled over from Ireland. It was then the turn of the champion Khan who also entered to a thunderous reception.
After the formalities the action got underway Khan’s impressive speed allowed him to win the round against McCloskey’s southpaw. It looked early as though McCloskey may be in trouble as he fought with his right hand low and this would allow Khan to pick him off but as the fight went on McCloskey who is no slouch in the speed department himself was able to get out of the way of many of Khan’s combinations.
The second was similar again with Khan’s speed being the key though to his credit McCloskey landed a few of his own shots and wasn’t troubled when Khan landed.
McCloskey has his best round of the fight in the third landing an impressive hook on a retreating Khan against the ropes which Khan acknowledges.
It prompted Khan to start fast in the fourth landing several combinations. Though McCloskey covered up well, by the end of the round both fighters engage each other to loud cheers.
Khan’s speed continues to be the deciding factor in the fifth though McCloskey keeps coming forward looking to land his own shots.
In the sixth both fighters clash heads, though it is McCloskey who comes off worse with a straight cut down towards his left eye brow. The referee Luis Pabon instructs the doctor to look at the cut surprisingly the doctor enters the ring, he then tells the referee to stop the fight. Under WBA rules the fight having gone passed the fourth round goes to the scorecards.
While it was no surprise that Khan won the decision the manner in which the fight was stopped was perplexing to many in attendance. The cut while nasty wasn’t bleeding in the eye so it was surprising the fight was stopped.
Afterwards at a rather ill tempered press conference things continued to simmer. First Oscar De La Hoya thanked everyone and was extremely happy to have such a great atmosphere and praised the fans in attendance. However things descended into chaos when he was repeatedly asked if he thought the fight should have been stopped and what he would of done as a former fighter. He repeated his answer “I don’t know I’m not a doctor” several times much to many peoples chagrin.
He continued and said he hoped to make a fight with Tim Bradley which would be a unification fight and is mooted for 23 July in America.
Khan took his turn to speak and answer questions and with tempers still flaring said “He should be happy this was stopped cos you were getting knocked out”. When asked if he would give McCloskey a rematch he continued “No point giving him a rematch”
While Khan was winning the fight he didn’t come off well in the press conference most likely due to frustration from the past week which has been rather frantic with the late announcement that the card wouldn’t be on Sky PPV and then cancelled from Sky Sports altogether only to be picked up by Primetime a channel with only several thousand viewers. It felt some what apt that after a week of shenanigans that this unsavoury end was preordained.
Stay tuned for the undercard report to follow.
