By Niall Hickman, express.co.uk
AMIR KHAN can sail serenely towards a showdown with his hero Manny Pacquiao and ignore the spurious calls for a rematch from Paul McCloskey’s camp.
Boxing’s authorities may have shot themselves in the foot for a second time only a few months after the Audley Harrison-David Haye fiasco by calling a premature halt to McCloskey’s challenge, but the Ulsterman was never in danger of taking Khan’s WBA world light- welterweight title.
After a clash of heads in the sixth round, the ring doctor ruled that McCloskey’s cut was too severe to continue. McCloskey has probably cut himself worse in the shaving mirror, so to take away his stab at stardom was wrong and cruel.
British Boxing Board of Control secretary Robert Smith said: “I have absolutely no problem with the competence of the doctor. Fraser Pinkney is very experienced, has worked with the board for many years and it was his judgment call. He felt there would be a considerable amount of blood getting into McCloskey’s eye.”
The fact that Khan had bossed each round by an increasing margin means calls for a rematch should be ignored and McCloskey’s cut, requiring just seven stitches, cannot cloud the simple truth that he would not beat the champion in a month of Sundays. McCloskey does not have the tools to beat a global talent like Khan.
It was not vintage Khan – he took two or three rounds to find his range against an elusive opponent – but it was enough to prove that under Freddie Roach’s tutelage he is now ready for the step up to Tim Bradley. They are close to securing a fight in Las Vegas on July 23.
Roach said: “I know Tim Bradley well and he is one hell of a fighter, but would I put Amir in with him in the ring tomorrow and expect my boxer to win? Yes I would.
“Their fight will determine who is the best at 140lbs and then the winner should go up to 147lbs and take on Manny Pacquiao. That is my feeling.”
Khan admits he is desperate to unify the titles as the Californian holds the WBC and WBO belts.
“Bradley and me belong in the same class, world class, whereas I have proven that McCloskey does not,” said Khan.
“Bradley is a good fighter but that’s just going to push me and motivate me.
“Bradley is quick, fast on his feet and he can punch. He is a proven world champion.
“When I go back to LA for my training camp, knowing it is Bradley I’m fighting is going to push me even more.
“I have to go over to America and take his world titles but I am very willing to do that.
“I want to be in with Tim Bradley next. What would be the point of a rematch with McCloskey? It was an easy fight for me.”
Khan showed in glimpses some of the lightning hand speed which has made him such a marketable talent and although he will be facing a far more formidable opponent in Bradley, he has the tools to win Stateside.
Khan may not have liked to beat McCloskey this way, but compared to Harrison v Haye, this was at least a contest.
Source: express.co.uk
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