Amir Khan vs. Paul McCloskey
Encyclopedia
Amir Khan vs. Paul McCloskey was a 140-pound world title fight, that was aired on HBO's Boxing After Dark
, as part of an HBO-televised split-site double-header, which also included WBC
Welterweight Championship fight, Andre Berto vs. Victor Ortiz
. Following on from Khan's successful title defense against Marcos Maidana, Champion Amir returned back to Manchester to continue his title defense against EBU Super Lightweight Champion Paul McCloskey
at the Manchester Evening News Arena
.
docked Maidana a point for elbowing on the break.
McCloskey produced a classy European light-welterweight title defense as he stopped Scotland's Barry Morrison
in seven rounds. The Dungiven man picked off Morrison in the opening rounds in Letterkenny and then put the ex-British champion on the canvas with a big right in the fifth. Morrison tried to get McCloskey involved in a brawl but the end came after another knockdown in the seventh. It was McCloskey's second defense of his title and his 22nd straight win. Morrison had no answer to McCloskey's fast hands and the Derry man showed punching power as well with his right hook in the fifth which caught the Scot flush on the temple.
Khan had some trouble with an awkward and resilient southpaw, who was difficult to hit cleanly, winning all six rounds on all three cards.
There is some controversy over the stoppage, with The Independent
s Steve Bunce questioning the doctor's reason for entering the ring although McCloskey did not seem to protest until after the referee called the fight off.
Boxing After Dark
Boxing After Dark is an HBO boxing program, premiering in April 1996, that usually shows fights between well-known contenders, but usually not "championship" or "title" fights. Unlike its sister program, HBO World Championship Boxing, BAD features fighters who are usually moving up from ESPN's...
, as part of an HBO-televised split-site double-header, which also included WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
Welterweight Championship fight, Andre Berto vs. Victor Ortiz
Andre Berto vs. Victor Ortiz
Andre Berto vs. Victor Ortiz is a 147-pound world title fight, that aired on HBO's Boxing After Dark. As part of an HBO televised broadcast, the split-site double-header included WBA junior welterweight Championship Amir Khan vs. Paul McCloskey, Khan fighting from his native England.-Build Up:Berto...
. Following on from Khan's successful title defense against Marcos Maidana, Champion Amir returned back to Manchester to continue his title defense against EBU Super Lightweight Champion Paul McCloskey
Paul McCloskey
Paul McCloskey is an Irish southpaw professional boxer who fights in the light welterweight division....
at the Manchester Evening News Arena
Manchester Evening News Arena
The Manchester Evening News Arena is an indoor arena situated in Manchester, England. It is adjacent to Manchester Victoria station near Corporation Street...
.
Build Up
Khan survived a brutal late onslaught from Marcos Maidana to retain his WBA light-welterweight title on December 2010. It was looking like an easy night's work in round one. Khan dropped Maidana with a vicious left to the body that had the Argentinian writhing in agony. During round 10, was where that Maidana had much of his success, threading huge uppercuts through his tight guard and ripping shots to his ribs on both flanks in a vain effort to bring his gloves down. He won the bout unanimous decision. Khan had two 10-8 rounds, the first and the fifth, when the referee Joe CortezJoe Cortez
Joe Cortez is a Puerto Rican boxing referee who has worked many important world title bouts.-Biography:Cortez moved to Puerto Rico during his childhood. Living there, he became fluent in Spanish. Cortez had a good amateur boxing career, winning various Golden Gloves tournaments from 1960 to 1962...
docked Maidana a point for elbowing on the break.
McCloskey produced a classy European light-welterweight title defense as he stopped Scotland's Barry Morrison
Barry Morrison
Barry Morrison, is a Scottish professional boxer who fights in the light welterweight division.He is a former British light welterweight champion.-Professional career:...
in seven rounds. The Dungiven man picked off Morrison in the opening rounds in Letterkenny and then put the ex-British champion on the canvas with a big right in the fifth. Morrison tried to get McCloskey involved in a brawl but the end came after another knockdown in the seventh. It was McCloskey's second defense of his title and his 22nd straight win. Morrison had no answer to McCloskey's fast hands and the Derry man showed punching power as well with his right hook in the fifth which caught the Scot flush on the temple.
The fight
The fight started with Khan as the main aggressor with little changing for five rounds. McCloskey evaded a lot of Khan's punches with superb upper body movement but he was not throwing enough punches to win rounds and caught Khan with only one meaningful punch which did little to no damage to the WBA Champion. In the decisive sixth Khan staggered McCloskey and moments later the pair went toe-to-toe, clashing heads as Khan came in for a right hand, McCloskey and Khan both stopped and the referee intervened. The fight was then stopped because of a cut to McCloskey's left eye.Khan had some trouble with an awkward and resilient southpaw, who was difficult to hit cleanly, winning all six rounds on all three cards.
There is some controversy over the stoppage, with The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
s Steve Bunce questioning the doctor's reason for entering the ring although McCloskey did not seem to protest until after the referee called the fight off.
Televised
- Light-Welterweight Championship bout:
Amir KhanAmir Khan (boxer)Amir Iqbal Khan , is a British Pakistani professional boxer who is currently the unified WBA & IBF light welterweight champion....
vs. Paul McCloskeyPaul McCloskeyPaul McCloskey is an Irish southpaw professional boxer who fights in the light welterweight division....
- Khan defeats McCloskey by via technical decision in round 6. (60-54, 60-54,60-54)
- Middleweight bout: Martin MurrayMartin Murray (boxer)Martin Murray is a British professional boxer fighting in the middleweight and super middleweight divisions. He was the winner of the fourth Prizefighter tournament and is the reigning Commonwealth champion at middleweight...
vs.
John Anderson Carvalho
- Murray defeats Carvalho by via TKO at 2:20 in round 4.
- Welterweight bout: Craig WatsonCraig WatsonCraig Robert Watson is an athlete from the New Zealand, who competed in triathlon.Watson competed at the first Olympic triathlon at the 2000 Summer Olympics. He took sixteenth place with a total time of 1:50:01.16. In 2001 he placed 3rd at the World Championships at Edmonton, Canada...
vs. Lee Purdy
- Purdy defeats Watson by via TKO at 0:40 in round 5.
Preliminary card
- Super Bantamweight bout: Rendall MunroeRendall MunroeRendall Munroe is an English super bantamweight boxer. Munroe currently resides in Leicester and is the WBA International Super Bantamweight champion. He is also a former holder of the EBU and Commonwealth Super Bantamweight titles. His dayjob as a binman is well publicised as his nickname is 'The...
vs.
Andrei Isaeu
- Munroe defeats Isaeu by unanimous decision. (116-112, 115-114, 117-112)
- Lightweight bout: Graeme Higginson vs. Andy MurrayAndrew Murray (boxer)Andrew Murray is a professional boxer. Murray is the former Irish senior champion and currently fights as a professional in the Lightweight division. He is currently ranked number three in the EBU's European rankings.-Amateur career:At the age of ten, Murray began boxing as an amateur at the...
- Murray defeated Higginson by via points.
- Heavyweight bout: Richard TowersRichard TowersRichard Towers is a undefeated British heavyweight boxer based in Sheffield, Yorkshire, United Kingdom...
vs. Raman Sukhaterin
- Towers defeats Sukhaterin by via RTD. The fight was stopped at the end of round four.
- Super Bantamweight bout: Kid GalahadKid GalahadKid Galahad is a 1962 musical film starring Elvis Presley as a boxer. The film was released by United Artists. The film opened at #9 at the box office when released in the United States in August 1962...
vs. Dai DaviesDai DaviesWilliam David Davies, better known as Dai Davies , is a former professional footballer, who played in goal between 1969 and 1987...
- Galahad defeated Davies by via points.
- Bantamweight bout: Tasif Khan vs.
Pavels Senkovs
- Khan defeated Senkovs by via points.