By Brendan Galbraith at Khan-McCloskey Press Conference, Ulster Museum, Belfast, Northern Ireland – Prior to the announcement of this fight, the negotiations for Amir Khan’s homecoming WBA Championship defence had descended into a merry go round of names and opinion on who King Khan should face was mixed. However, after protracted negotiations, Derry man, Paul ‘Dudey’ McCloskey finally secured his world title shot with Khan which will take place at the MEN Arena, Manchester on 26th April 2011.
However, in today’s press conference at the Ulster Museum, Belfast, in front of a packed crowd of supporters and media frenzy, it was revealed that a dispute had already arose over the ticketing of the Khan-McCloskey fight. It emerged that all of the lower priced tickets had sold out yesterday before Paul McCloskey was allocated his share of tickets to sell to his huge contingent of Irish fans – a fact that was underlined today by the ‘standing room only’ packed press conference.
McCloskey’s promoters and key negotiator Eddie Hearn from Matchroom Sports made it clear that it was a matter that would be cleared up immediately after the Belfast Press Conference and lamented that “it would be daylight robbery if Irish fans did not get a chance to watch this fight and also to sit together”.. Asif Vali, from Team Khan apologised for the ticketing fiasco and revealed that in just 15 minutes all of the cheaper categories of tickets had been sold out yesterday.
Asif Vali (Khan Promotions):
“I will publicly apologise, there was a mistake and unfortunately some of the tickets that sold within 15 minutes got sold out and that is down to myself – it is my fault I have apologised. However, I have done my very best and gave you as many tickets as I can because I want to see you guys there.”
Eddie Hearn (Managing Director of Matchroom Sport)
“I think this is a great fight for the Irish people and a great fight for Paul and it is going to be a special day for Irish sport. We have got conversations after this press conference that need immediate addressing with regards to make sure we get a fair crack at the whip here with tickets.
“I believe personally that Paul will have more fans in that arena than Khan will have. I think it is going to banged out on the night with a lot of sports fans, a lot interested spectators, but in terms of loyal, passionate fans I think Paul will have the edge there and it is something that we are adamant that we get a fair crack at the whip because there needs to be a lot of support there for Paul and I know you guys (Irish fans) will turn out there in your droves”.
“We will be making some announcements about ticketing shortly, you will find further information on that from www.paulmccloskey.com and we will be doing everything that we can to ensure that you guys get a fair crack at the whip as far as ticketing“
As Hearn finished, he received a huge round of applause from the packed crowd of fight fans. Hearn capitalised on the large Irish support as he introduced “Your champion, Paul McCloskey” the ‘clapometer’ ratcheted up a few notches along with a loud chorus of cheers for the Dungiven southpaw.
Once, McCloskey took the microphone he was quick to remind the boxing public that he deserves his world title shot and is there on merit:
“I have worked a long time in my career to get to this point, in the last 5 ½ years I have had 22 fights and I done it the traditional route with the British and European titles and I am world ranked – so deserving of this shot. We are ready for this fight.”
Although McCloskey was thankful for the challenge, he pointed out reservations with other potential challengers: “He (Khan) could have went for Lamont Peterson who in his last fight had a draw, but I don’t think people were looking forward to that fight so I am glad that he choose me”.
McCloskey has recently enlisted the services of a strength and conditioner:
“I have never really used a strength and conditioning trainer, but I started with a conditioner last week so if anything that is just going to propel and make me stronger in other areas. I aim to be in shape of my life and firing on all cylinders”.
McCloskey is a huge underdog with book makers, so how confident is he of victory of Khan?
“I am always confident of victory, I don’t know how to lose professionally. Obviously this is a massive step up in class, but I have fought world class opponents in my last ten fights and I dealt with them ok. I will have to at my best if not better to do a job on him.”
“To me this is a rainbow fight and at the end of the rainbow is a pot of gold and that will bring me on to the next platform to do a job. For me that will have to be one hell of a job, it will have to be a career best for me but I know it is in there and as long as I have done my preparation, have no injuries, am not sick I am confident of winning the fight.”
McCloskey was asked how important strong Irish support inside the MEN Arena would be:
“It would be amazing. But we have obviously learned about the difficulty with tickets, it is a nice problem to have, they are selling so fast, but I know a lot of people that have looked for tickets and they have gone now (the cheaper ticket price categories of £40 etc) as far as I know and it could be a bit of a problem.”
“The support I have been getting so far has been immense. The feedback we have been getting has been serious. I feel that if all the tickets were coming my way – we would get rid of them all as the feedback for this fight has been super. I hope people that can get into the arena that we know and that will help me on the night for definite.”
Eddie Hearn again interjected when the subject of tickets arose again: “We are going to have a conversation after this press conference were we have got a lot to clear up on that front clearly.”
Then Hearn appeared to lay a marker for the inexperienced Khan Promotions outfit:
“As promoters, through myself and my father, probably in the last thirty years in boxing it would be a daylight robbery if the Irish fans did not get a chance to watch this fight and also to sit together.”
“And I am sure that Khan Promotions and Hatton Promotions are savvy enough to realise that when you have got a group of fans to come and watch a fight it makes no sense to put them in pockets in the arena. We will be talking after to resolve the situation and I am sure a certain section of the arena will be dedicated to Paul’s supporters.”
Asif Vali then cut in and said:
“Rest assured Eddie, we have done that and you have got your tickets, they are great tickets, they are in blocks, they are all sat together, the only unfortunate thing was that the lower priced tickets got sold out so quickly within 15 minutes – we didn’t anticipate how quick those tickets would sell out. And that is the only unfortunate, if you want you can have 10,000 tickets – no problem”.
Hearn, then stole an opportunity to put Vali on the backfoot when he announced:
“The good news is that Asif has already acknowledged his mistake and he will be reducing the other priced tickets”. This quip has greeted with rapturous applause and cheers from the Irish crowd in attendance, before Asif retorted: “As long has you agree that that comes off Paul’s purse.” No applause from the crowd, nor any further comment from Hearn.
As Khan was introduced to the Irish crowd he also received received appreciative applause from the enthusiastic crowd.
Statement from Amir Khan:
“It is a great turn out today, it is always great to come to Ireland. The Irish public are huge boxing fans, they are true boxing fans. You know with Irish fighters, they are strong, have got big heart.I am sure you will remember when Eamon Magee fought Ricky Hatton, he put Ricky Hatton down and it shows how much heart you Irish have. I am fighting Paul McCloskey who is going to be up for this fight. It is going to be a huge fight for both of us really, I have not fought in England for the last 14 months, my last two fights were in American – so it is going to be a big night for me coming home in front of my home fans in Manchester and against an undefeated fighter.”
“I have seen Paul fighting a few times and he got good lateral movement, he is a southpaw, very awkward, and I think he is going to bring a lot of tricky things, he is going to be a tough fight. A lot of people are making this sound that I am odds on to win but Paul McCloskey is a tough opponent he is not an easy guy to beat.
“We are going to do our homework. I fly to America on Thursday. We spoke about Paul and my trainer, Freddie Roach is happy to take this fight on, so we start training in LA for 4 weeks and from there we go to the Philipines and I am going to be training with Manny Pacquaio – who is also a southpaw. I am going to train very hard for this fight, I always train as if I am the challenger and I am going to five it 100% on the night. I am going to say good luck to Paul and all the Irish people out there and come the 16th April it is going to be a big massive night.”
Irish fight fans are urged to keep check www.paulmccloskey.com for imminent ticketing information. There will be a large allocation of tickets for Paul McCloskey’s fans and in the next 24 hours full details of this should be added to the fighters website.
In addition, a package of tickets, coach and ferry and accommodation is being organised by Breens Gym and details will appear on www.paulmccloskey.com