• Boxing

Rematch would be 'pointless' - Khan

ESPN staff
April 17, 2011
Paul McCloskey's promoter Barry Hearn was furious with the decision © Getty Images
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Amir Khan believes Paul McCloskey was spared a worse fate after the challenger's fight was cut short.

WBA light-welterweight Khan retained his belt in controversial circumstances when the doctor called a halt to the contest following a cut to McCloskey after an accidental clash of heads in the sixth round.

Khan had won every round by all three judges but McCloskey's team have called furiously for a rematch after claiming they had no opportunity to attend to the injury.

"The cut is almost non-existent, when you look at it," said Barry Hearn, McCloskey's promoter. "It's fanciful to think that was a dangerous cut. From what I saw of that referee he should never be allowed in a boxing ring again. You don't take away people's dreams like that and rob the paying public."

Hearn appealed to Khan to "do the right thing" and grant his client a rematch.

"Amir Khan is a decent man and he would gain a lot of friends around the world if he did the right," he said. "It's an embarrassment for us all to be involved in a fight like this where we are so clearly robbing the public.

"It was the most staggering decision I've ever seen at any ring at any time anywhere in the world. "I don't think there's any doubt that there should be a rematch - McCloskey's been robbed."

However, Khan insisted a rematch would be fruitless.

"He didn't win one round," he said. "I was hurting him, I wasn't tired, and I promise you if it had gone two more rounds he would have been knocked out. There is no point in a rematch."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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