by James Slater: At the post-fight press conference to his recent loss to Amir Khan, a frustrated and angry Paul McCloskey was pleading his case for a rematch with the reigning WBA 140-pound champion. Hugely annoyed at how his challenge had been stopped due to a cut that he and many others felt was no way close to severe enough to stop the action as it did in the 6th-round, “Dudey” was told by Khan to “beat the guys I’ve beaten.”
Well, according to promoter Eddie Hearn in talking with Mirror Sport, the plan instead is for the Irish warrior to go one better than that and defeat the man Khan himself was unable to beat: Colombian banger Breidis Prescott.
According to Hearn, talks are in an advanced state for McCloskey and Prescott to meet this year, possibly in September, possibly in Belfast. Not only that, but Hearn has written to the WBA, asking them to sanction McCloskey-Prescott as a title fight. Hearn feels Khan will either move up in weight or become the WBA “super” champion very soon, and that the winner of McCloskey-Prescott should become the “regular” WBA champ as a result.
“A rematch with Khan is unlikely,” Hearn said with regard to his fighter. “Paul is in a good position regardless. He put himself in the limelight and proved he is a world-level fighter. Khan said in the press conference that Paul should go and defeat every fighter he defeated before talking about a rematch, but we will do one better and beat the man that beat Khan: Prescott. We are in talks with his people and a fight between him and Paul this September in Belfast is a real possibility.
“We are waiting to hear back from the WBA, but we hope if Khan moves up in weight or is made super champion, that Paul’s fight will be for the world title. At the very least Paul should get an eliminator for the title, but the WBA have to make that happen.”
While some fans may not agree a McCloskey-Prescott fight is worthy of a world title tag, the prospective clash would certainly make a good eliminator for the WBA belt. 31-year-old McCloskey deserves another chance, seeing how his sole pro defeat came about in most controversial circumstances. While Prescott, who has been craving a second fight with the man he destroyed inside a minute three years ago, will get the chance to earn a return with “King Khan” if the WBA sanctions the September fight as an eliminator.
A risky fight for both men, Prescott-McCloskey could go either way. Prescott, 24-2(19) looked good in his last fight, when he threw a lot of punches in boxing his way to a wide decision over the tough Bayan Jargal; while southpaw McCloskey showed his defensive skills in the loss to Khan.
Prescott’s last fight in the U.K proved to be a nightmare for him, as he totally got it wrong tactics-wise against Kevin Mitchell. Looking to blast his man out, the 28-year-old was instead outboxed and widely out-pointed. No doubt McCloskey will study the tape of that December 2009 fight as he prepares for his own battle with Prescott.
Neither man can afford another loss, and both will be in prime condition for the September fight (if it actually happens, and this fight does make a whole lot of sense). I can envisage the 22-1(12) McCloskey boxing out of his skin and capturing a decision win. At the same time, though, it’s not hard to picture Prescott either catching his man and taking him or pounding out a hard-fought decision win of his own.
You can call this in-the-works clash a pick ’em affair.