Amir Khan is set to make the 4th defence of his WBA Light Welterweight (140lb) title against Northern Ireland’s Paul “Dudey” McCloskey on Saturday night at Manchester’s MEN Arena. A red hot atmosphere is likely for the domestic dust up as it is believed that as many as 5,000 of “Dudey’s Army” will be making the trip from Northern Ireland to spur their hero on to achieve his dream of becoming world champion.
The fighters’ respective preparations for the showdown could not provide a starker contrast. Khan’s training camp has spanned three continents; North America, Asia, and now Europe whereas McCloskey relocated from his hometown Dungiven to Belfast – a paltry 55 miles away.

Khan is on the verge of becoming a worldwide boxing star. He has the talent, looks and certainly the hunger to follow the likes of his co-promoter Oscar De La Hoya and open up boxing to a wider audience. McCloskey on the other hand is an unassuming family man, shying away from the limelight in order to concentrate on honing his skills in the ring. The pride of Dungiven (population 3,000.), McCloskey seems content with fighting for personal pride and his own dream of being a world champion.
With increased media attention though, comes increased distraction as Khan has undoubtedly found out in the build up to this fight. Rumours persist in the press of an acrimonious fall out between Khan’s team and strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza. Khan believed Ariza to be instrumental in his December victory over the hellacious puncher Marcos Maidana, stating that he survived Maidana’s onslaught in the tenth round due to his impeccable conditioning. Yet Ariza has left Khan’s team under a cloud of rumour and hearsay regarding money disputes with Khan’s advisers and a new conditioner has been brought in. McCloskey, on the other hand, has simply got on with the job of preparing for fight. He has enlisted the help of a strength and conditioning coach for the first time in his career and the coach believes he can add 5-10% to the challenger’s already superlative conditioning levels.

Many boxing fans believe that Khan has hand-picked an easy opponent for this homecoming fight and is looking past McCloskey to a unification showdown with Timothy Bradley the summer. The talk that McCloskey is an unworthy challenger is borne out of ignorance I believe. McCloskey is undefeated and holds the European title, never having looked in danger of losing along the way. He has earned his world title shot through graft and hard work and is a deserving and worthy challenger. Whilst McCloskey is an underdog in the fight, he is very much a live underdog. No true boxing fan would be shocked if a fighter the calibre of McCloskey is able to dethrone Khan on Saturday.

Amir Khan has looked sensational since enlisting Freddie Roach as his trainer. Khan’s physical gifts, his tenacity in the face of adversity and the expert tutelage he has under Roach lead many to believe that he may one day take up the mantle as the number one Pound for Pound boxer in the world. However, he is not quite yet the finished article. He almost let his own machismo get the better of him in his fight with Maidana electing at times to get into and fire fight with the Argentine banger and almost paying dearly for it. Khan withstood Maidana’s power shots but he didn’t need to take them at all.

A quick perusal of McCloskey’s record would belie the Derry-man’s ability to trouble Khan’s still-questioned chin. McCloskey currently has 12 wins by way of stoppage in his 22 fight professional career, giving a knockout percentage of 55% which would suggest good, but not exceptional, fistic power. However, McCloskey has finished his last 5 opponents inside the distance and, interestingly enough, he has won by stoppage in every 12 round fight he has fought in. Unfortunately for Khan, his punch resistance (or his lack thereof) will unfairly be his most talked about attribute; the spectre of his September 2008 licking by Colombian puncher Breidis Prescott still looming over his career.

McCloskey has a style which works best when he operates at mid-to-long range, constantly throwing out his using his southpaw jab, adopting a low guard and masterfully using his reflexes to evade punches whilst countering effectively with straights and right hooks. As masterful as McCloskey’s head movement seems at times though, he’s often far too cavalier and has been caught with too many punches from opponents far less formidable than Khan. McCloskey’s reflex based defence may be found wanting on Saturday night when it’s matched against the blistering hand speed of Khan. The pinpoint accuracy of Khan’s jab and the rapid fire combinations which follow will likely cause problems for McCloskey whose reflexes may by on the wane at the age of 31

The televised undercard provides three mouth-watering matches which are sure to provide plenty of value for money showcasing the talent of the growing Hatton Promotions stable. In the Super-Bantamweight (122lb) division, “The Boxing Binman” Rendall Munroe returns to the ring for the first time after his unsuccessful world title challenge against Toshiaki Nishioka in Tokyo last October. Munroe takes on tough Belarussian Andrei Isaeu who should provide a decent test for Munroe after his disheartening but honourable loss to Nishkioka. The Belarussian could make it a rough night for Munroe who may be experiencing doubts but expect Munroe to bounce back strong from his loss and win on points.

Oldham’s Craig Watson returns to the ring two months removed from avenging a split decision defeat at the hands of John O’Donnell, claiming the British welterweight (147lb) title in the process. Watson takes on Colchester’s Lee Purdy in the first defence of his British title. Watson, who boasts a win over recent world title challenger Matthew Hatton, is a strong favourite at the bookies leading into the fight and appears to be entering the form of his life.
The final undercard fight features is in the middleweight (160lb) division and features Martin Murray taking on Brazil’s John Anderson Carvalho. Carvalho is ranked the number 1 middleweight from Brazil by BoxRec and has fought some decent names. Murray enters the fight a strong favourite but a tricky night may be in store for the St. Helen’s man.