• Boxing

Hearn tears into 'fraud' Khan

ESPN staff
October 12, 2011
Barry Hearn felt the stoppage was premature in the Amir Khan v Paul McCloskey fight © PA Photos
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Paul McCloskey's promoter Barry Hearn has labelled WBA and IBF light-welterweight champion Amir Khan a "fraud" as the dispute between the two camps rages on.

Khan defeated McCloskey in controversial circumstances during April, with the bout stopped in the sixth round due to a cut above McCloskey's eye. Hearn said afterwards that "it's fanciful to think that was a dangerous cut … the referee should never be allowed in a boxing ring again", before demanding the two fighters reconvene in future.

Khan scoffed at the request, claiming "there is no point in a rematch", and went on to rip the IBF strap from Zab Judah during July. When McCloskey defeated Breidis Prescott, the only man to conquer Khan, in September it seemed the two Brits were on a collision course - but Khan opted to face Lamont Peterson on December 10 instead.

Now Hearn is aiming to secure McCloskey a bout against Marcos Maidana, the WBA World champion (Khan was upgraded to WBA Super champion after he claimed the IBF strap).

"[Amir Khan], I think you're a fraud. Frankly, just a fraud," Hearn said to boxingfutures.com. "Now we go on and we're looking at Maidana for the WBA title. And who knows, one day in the future, we'll get a chance to have a proper fight [with Khan] on fair terms and [with] fair officials. The next time we'll destroy Amir Khan."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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