By William Mackay: It must be hard for WBA Super World light welterweight champion Amir Khan (24-1, 17 KO’s) to stay motivated for his upcoming April 16th bout against the inexperienced Paul McCloskey (22-0, 12 KO’s) for their fight at the M.E.N. Arena, in Manchester, England. If Khan wins this fight, he has a hugely important unification bout against WBC/WBO champion Timothy Bradley in July. It won’t prove who the best fighter is in the division, because the winner of that fight will still haven’t faced guys like Lucas Matthysse, zab Judah and Victor Ortiz.
McCloskey doesn’t have anything really significant about him that you can look at that would make you think he has a chance of winning against Khan. The only thing I can see that McCloskey has going for him is his inflated #5 ranking by the WBA. He’s slow, weak, fights with his hands down below his waist, has short arms and is completely inexperienced against upper level fighters. He’s basically been chosen over guys that would have really given Khan a test like Breidis Prescott, who knocked Khan out in one round, and Lamont Peterson.
Khan says Prescott hasn’t done anything recently to make him want to fight him. But he did do something – he knocked Khan out in one round. I’d say that’s something. But you can turn that around and say what has McCloskey done? In McCloskey’s last four fights he’s beaten the following fighters: Dean Harrison, Daniel Rasilla, Giuseppe Lauri and Barry Morrison. Last time I checked, those guys aren’t world class fighters and I can’t I don’t think wins over those guys are reasons for McCloskey to get a shot against Khan. He might as well have given Prescott a rematch rather than taking on this guy.
Khan said this in an interview at Sky Sports: “A lot of people are saying I’m overlooking McCloskey, but I know I’ve got a big task in front of me. I want to beat him and him him good style.”
A big task? McCloskey? Khan is really building this guy. Khan already said that McCloskey is just as tough as Marcos Maidana. I wonder what Khan will say next about how great McCloskey is.
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