By Marius McDaid: In just a few hours Co.Derry man and former undefeated European Champion Paul McCloskey (22-1, 12 KO’s will seek to avenge his defeat against Amir Khan by defeating Breidis Prescott (24-2, 19 KO’s), the only boxer to defeat Khan.

McCloskey has been getting some bad press from certain writers on this website. Yet, I fear that the only fight they have watched of McCloskey is the Khan bout and they sorely overestimate Prescott’s boxing ability against an elusive fighter. I would say that these writers were also excessive in their criticism of McCloskey as they posted an article every single day for weeks about how he will lose. I felt that I would try and restore the balance and offer a reasoned, non-biased assessment of the match up.

The fight, held in the Odyessey Arena, Belfast is the most sensible bout for both fighters, as both have been looking for a rematch against Khan, Prescott as he has beaten him in the past, but his career has floundered since and McCloskey, who suffered a defeat due to a ridiculous judgement by the referee, who saw the small cut on McCloskey’s fight as dangerous, despite the fact that both Khan and his opponent Maidana had much worse cuts in Khan’s previous fight.

Prescott is a power puncher, but frankly lacks much boxing skill. Worse still is the fact that he struggled to make weight at the fight (he had to go for a run and take a trip to the sauna to lose the weight) which means that he will be particularly slow tonight. This is really the wrong tactics for a fighter with the elusive skills of McCloskey, Prescott may have the power but he will find it extremely difficult to land.

Khan missed a lot of shots in his fight with McCloskey and Khan is the fastest in the division and has skills that far outrank Prescott. The only way he can win is by a lucky shot. Look for Paul to outbox the Colombian all night and to go for the knockout in the later rounds, although it will probably go to the scorecards.