• Boxing

Khan fuels fears of underestimating McCloskey

ESPN staff
April 14, 2011
Paul McCloskey takes on Amir Khan for the WBA light-welterweight title on Saturday © PA Photos
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WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan has hinted that he sees a fight with Paul McCloskey as little more than a warm-up for a summer unification clash with Timothy Bradley.

Khan has left himself open to accusations of underestimating McCloskey, who he faces on Saturday, by outlining his plans for the future, which include dates with Bradley and Floyd Mayweather Jnr.

But he insists his preparations for McCloskey have been meticulous, as he looks for an easier night than he enjoyed against last opponent Marcos Maidana, who finished second best in a brutal 12-round war.

"McCloskey wasn't on my radar until after the Maidana fight," Khan said. "I wanted the winner of Devon Alexander v Timothy Bradley (which Bradley won in January) but I thought it was too long a gap to wait and that I might as well have a fight in between.

"Looking at the world rankings, McCloskey's name was there. So I thought 'why don't I fight a British guy, from Northern Ireland, who is going to bring a great big following and who people from England know too, instead of an American opponent who nobody knows here?' So that's what we chose.

"You can never take any fight easy but Maidana is heavy handed and I don't think McCloskey hits as hard. But he is going to be smarter than Maidana, I know that. He's a southpaw, too, which makes it a little bit awkward. But I think it's a fight that can take me to bigger and better things. Winning this will take me to Bradley."

The build-up to the fight has been dominated by discussions over money, following a TV dispute that has meant the bout will now be shown on the Primetime cable channel. McCloskey has sought to distance himself from the financial side by revealing that, two years ago, he would have taken to the ring with Khan for free.

"The opportunity here is amazing," he said. "Being honest with you, a couple of years ago I would have fought Amir Khan for nothing, just to prove the point. But actually that is not the case now, I've got a right to have this fight, I have earned the right to be here.

"I hope they are looking by me. You never know."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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