2300: Right, that's it from me, congratulations to Amir Khan who defends his WBA light-welterweight title with a sixth-round points win over unfortunate cut victim Paul McCloskey.
2255: Amir Khan on BBC Radio 5 live: "I wanted to knock him out to be honest. He was getting beat, his head was getting lower and lower and that was always going to happen. I am not the doctor but had it gone on another two rounds I would have knocked him out. I was getting better and better and was starting to catch him and this is one of those things that happens in boxing. He said he did not want to continue, I want to go onto bigger things now and show I am the best in the world."
2250: Paul McCloskey: "I've been waiting for this fight my whole life and it has been taken away from me by a doctor. My corner were not even given a chance to work on it. I'm shocked and I am numb. It's ridiculous."
2250: McCloskey is interviewed ringside and the cut looks bad, but not that bad. It does look like a premature decision and a strange one considering his corner were not given the chance to work on it. You've got to feel for the challenger although it is worth considering that Khan had won every round up until that point.
2245: Paul McCloskey's promoter Barry Hearn: "It is a shameful decision, we will make a complaint and we want a re-match. I have been in the game a long time and I am absolutely astonished, I cannot believe that fight was stopped."
2245: It is a unanimous decision for Khan in what was an one-sided fight. He looks embarrassed as he is lifted onto the shoulders of a member of his entourage. Khan will be pleased to have seen this one out as he makes the fourth successful defence of his WBA light-welterweight title.
2240: Angry scenes at the MEN Arena as the fight is stopped for what looks like a fairly innocuous cut. All three judges award the fight to Khan but although the fight may be over the action inside the ring continues with McCloskey's promoter Barry Hearn going absolutely mad. Boos rings out and it is a very unsavoury finish to what was a scrappy fight.
Round six: It's another scrappy start to the round and it take nearly 90 seconds before there is any action, and it is the best action of the fight as Khan opens up and rocks his opponent, but the action is stopped with McCloskey suffering a cut, possibly from a clash of heads. The ringside doctor checks the injury and stops the fight with a cut above the left eye proving too serious for the fight to continue. It's going to the scorecards as it is an accidental clash of head. Oh what drama.
Round five: McCloskey is continuing to prove to be an awkward opponent as Khan again falls short with a four-punch combination. A neat left-hand uppercut from McCloskey gets through as Khan opens up. Khan does get through with a neat right hand but the challenger responds. The champion ends the round with a right-left combination. For the first time in the fight he seems to hurt the challenger but Khan needs to re-think his strategy here.
Round four: Khan starts well with a solid shot rattling the rib cage of his opponent. McCloskey is dominating the centre of the ring and Khan starts swinging wildly but he is missing far too often. The fight is turning a bit ugly as the crowd goes quiet for the first time in the fight. The pace slows and Khan takes advantage of some low defence with a right-left combination. McCloskey is comfortable in there though and is taking everything Khan is throwing at him.
Round three: McCloskey continues to evade Khan who is struggling to find his range. The Irishman is holding his own here and he goes close with a wild left hand. Another left hand gets through for the challenger and Khan replies with a straight right. It's an even round which ends with McCloskey on the front foot as Khan is warned for hitting on the back of the head. Khan is a frustrated man as he trudges back to his stool.
Round two: Khan gets through with two flicked jabs and lands with an overhand right. It's an electric atmosphere in Manchester. A two-punch combination from Khan gets through, he opens up with a sharp combination but McCloskey is wise to the attack again. McCloskey is struggling to assert himself on the fight and it's all Khan and another right hand unbalances the challenger. McCloskey comes back with a couple of jabs and an uppercut but then takes a four punch attack from Khan. It's a scrappy start to the fight.
Round one: Khan comes out swinging but McCloskey is wise to the attack. Khan goes lunging in again but is made to miss. The challenger has dangerously low hands and Khan opens up, but the champions can't get through. It's all Khan but he can't get through the defence of his awkward opponent and is struggling to find his range. There's not much coming back from McCloskey as Khan is again shy of the target with a right-hand combination. It's a lively first round which Khan shades.
2212: Both boxers are introduced and it seems an even split in the MEN Arena. Khan de-robes and as ever he looks in immaculate condition and primed for battle.
2211: Khan is in the ring, dressed in blue, he bobs up and down, as Michael Buffer goes through the necessaries before the inevitable: "Let's get ready to rumble!"
2207: Now here comes, Khan. "What a noise," declares Mike Costello. "I don't like the look of McCloskey," responds Steve Bunce.
2206: McCloskey, dressed in black, walks in to a mixed reception, Khan's fans are making themselves heard, but as he has been all week the challenger appears calm and relaxed and non fussed by the boos. He enters the ring and salutes his fans as he waits for the champion.
2205: Legendary MC Michael Buffer is now in the ring as he introduces the challenger from Northern Ireland Paul McCloskey.
2203: Not long now, remember you can listen to the fight live if you click on the link on the top right of this page. Radio 5 live commentator Mike Costello is joined ringside by Steve Bunce and Richie Woodhall.
2200: Dan from Portsmouth via text Gotta be Khan in the fifth for me - he is such a good fighter now and will be to classy for McCloskey who is also very talented.
2157: Aharon in Belfast via text on 81111 I have a sneaking suspicion that for all Khan's talk, he's gonna wake up sore and defeated tomorrow... At least that's what we all want in Ireland!
2155: The atmosphere is building in Manchester and we are probably about 15 minutes away from the boxers entering the arena. Just about enough time for you text in some predictions.
2150: Also on the undercard, the 'boxing bin man' Rendall Munroe has just made his comeback to the ring after his October defeat to WBC super-bantamweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka. Munroe defeated Andrei Isaeu on points in a scrappy affair as he claimed the vacant WBA International super-bantamweight title.
2147: Ok, if you want to listen to the fight live on BBC Radio 5 live then give this page a manual refresh and a link to Mike Costello's commentary will appear on the top right of your screen.
2145: The challenger, Paul McCloskey from Dungiven in Northern Ireland, was pictured earlier arriving to the arena looking calm and composed. The 31-year-old who also manages his local supermarket has apparently sold 3,000 tickets for Saturday's fight to friends and family so will be well supported inside the MEN Arena. Pictured at Friday's weigh-in he also looked in fine shape for Saturday's fight. Can the quiet man cause an upset?
2140: The build up to Saturday's bout has been overshadowed by a television dispute which has seen the fight end up on little-known pay-per-view channel Primetime TV. Those of you who have not booked the fight would have missed a dramatic fight on the undercard which saw Lee Purdy knock out Craig Watson in the fifth round with a stunning straight right to win the British welterweight title.
2135: Right, some quick housekeeping. Khan, the champion, has lost once in 25 fights with 17 of those finishing inside the scheduled distance. In contrast 31-year-old McCloskey, who is the European champion, is unbeaten in 22 fights and has 12 knockouts to his name. The records would suggest the pair are evenly matched even if the pre-fights odds do not.
2132: Remember you can get involved by texting in via 81111 with BOXING before your message. You can also follow BBC Sport's Ben Dirs in Manchester on Twitter. I want your fight predictions and your chat.
2130: Good evening fight fans, I'm Nabil Hassan and I'll be taking you through Saturday's boxing from Manchester as Bolton's Amir Khan makes the fourth defence of his WBA light-welterweight title against European champion Paul McCloskey.
Property Of http://news.bbc.co.uk/
No comments:
Post a Comment