Khan claims win

Amir Khan (right)
12 April 2012

Amir Khan struggled to live up to his own billing as a pay-per-view superstar as he claimed a six-round points win over unfortunate cut victim Paul McCloskey.

The Bolton light-welterweight, defending his WBA title against European champion McCloskey in Manchester, last week took umbrage when Sky decided to downgrade the fight from Box Office to their normal subscription service.

However, those who paid to watch instead on Primetime TV will have been left as disappointed as those in attendance at the MEN Arena as Khan was embroiled in a scrappy encounter for five and a half rounds before a clash of heads forced his previously unbeaten but unfancied opponent out.

The fight therefore went to the scorecards, with Khan's superiority showing as he claimed every round for a comprehensive but unsatisfactory victory.

Both were determined to put on a show to repay that faith although the opener was tentative. Khan pressed but found his fast hands matched by McCloskey's quick reflexes, though the champion did land two decent body shots and a reaching right.

Khan was more assured in the second as he landed in threes and fours, though McCloskey held ring centre and closed the round with a solid southpaw left.

McCloskey was at least making a scrap of it and had Khan on the back foot at times, catching him nicely on the chin with another winging left in the third.

The challenger slipped in the next session after a coming together but the action was more of the same until Khan landed a hurtful, sharp right hand. McCloskey fired back immediately but received a left hook to the head for his trouble.

Khan dug McCloskey with left hooks early in the fifth as the challenger continued to load up left hands, only to be caught with a hard right to the chin. McCloskey's awkward southpaw style was making the home fighter's life difficult but when Khan landed a hurtful flurry it clearly took its toll in the sixth.

McCloskey recovered well but moments later the fight was over, an accidental clash of heads leaving the challenger cut over the left eye. Referee Luis Pabon summoned the doctor, who studied the wound closely before advising the official to call a halt to proceedings immediately and it was Khan who rode out victoriously on the scorecards, with all three judges having awarded him every round with scores of 60-54.

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