• Boxing

Khan threatens not to return to England for a 'long time'

ESPN staff
April 15, 2011
Amir Khan puts his WBA light-welterweight title on the line against Paul McCloskey on Saturday night © PA Photos
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Big fight preview - Khan a bridge too far for McCloskey

Amir Khan is vowing not to fight in England for a "long time" after the row over television coverage for his WBA light-welterweight title defence against Paul McCloskey.

Khan has not fought on British soil since defeating Dmitriy Salita in 2009, and Saturday's bout with Northern Ireland's McCloskey has been completely overshadowed by a falling out with Sky regarding the broadcasting of the contest.

After Sky pulled the event from its pay-per-view billing, Khan's camp refused for the fight to be shown on Sky Sports 3, leaving the bout to be screened on the obscure Primetime TV channel.

Khan, 24, admits the events of the last few days have been an eye opener and, as a result, he sees his future big fights being staged in America.

"I've always said from day one that there is more money to be made for me in America if I fought there, but I chose to come here and fight live in front of my own fans," he said. "That's just me. I just wanted to do that and put a fight on.

"But being a British fighter and having more support from American TV just shows that as a British fighter I should have had British TV supporting me more. I'm not going to say it could be my last fight in Britain because I think there are some big fights for me in Britain.

"But I think it will be a long time until I come back again because while I want to have the big fights in England, it will be quite difficult to make them. I think they will probably be more likely in America."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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