By Gav Bridges: So, it seems, we are now set fair for the next bout facing ‘he who would be King’, Amir Khan. After much pontificating, shuffling and column inches, it seems reigning European champion Paul McCloskey will be getting his chance, and money befitting the match, on 16th April.
Many forums have been pounded over the past few weeks, the list of potential opponents ranging far and wide over more than a few generations and weight classes. At one point I got the impression the spirit of Georges Carpentier was to be summoned from the other side, such was the intensity of speculation and failed negotiation.
Now though, the prize has been given to McCloskey, a convenient low-key bout to smoothly pave the way to the linear bout aganst Bradley. A nice, unassuming contest which, save the participation of Khan, would merrily slip beneath the radar. Or so many think…
Let’s have a look at the bout. Now sure, McCloskey may not have stellar names on his record, or fighters who immediately trip off the tongue of supporters ‘Over The Pond’, yet the men he has defeated, and defeated comfortably, are the best a resurgent European boxing scene has to offer. From watching McCloskey the casual fan wouldn’t see anything that would immediately stand out, but what he does he does well, in a rounded package. Decent lateral movement, good reactions and vastly under-rated defence pave the way for a smooth southpaw jab to open the avenue to some fluid and accurate combinations, all blended with that obdurate fighting spirit than runs through the DNA of all Irish fighters.
Next, the night of the bout itself. The Manchester Evening News (MEN) Arena looks like the venue of choice. A state-of-the-art facility, which will be full to the gills with 20,000 raucous, encouraging voices from both sides of the Irish Sea. Any fan of the sport who hasn’t experienced what a huge Irish contingent brings to a live event are missing out on one of life’s great joys! Win, lose or draw they will sing and cheer and greet the opposition as their brothers, the raw unbridled enthusiasm over the years has willed more than one fighter from the canvas and driven them on to achievements beyond nature’s will.
So, we have the PPV left to deal with. Many are saying this match will have no impact in the States, no doubt these are the same people who have just left the cinema’s wowwing at the performances of Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale in the biopic of ‘Irish’ Mickey Ward. Make no mistake, this bout couldn’t be better timed. An Irish hero, with no chance, taking on the champ, HBO will milk this angle of the fight to rouse the massive Irish communities dotted all along the Esatern seaboard, and suddenly the figures may not be looking too shabby…
So now, with a few extra ingredients in the melting pot, suddenly there is a touch more intrigue and one hell of a lot more reason why this bout isn’t the needless foray some are portraying it as. For what it’s worth, I believe Khan will still have too much for McCloskey, however I think we will have another member of the burgeoning group that is rapidly making 140lb such an attraction to casual fans and die-hards alike. Roll on April 16th, and somebody save me a seat and a glass of Liffey Water!!