IT really could be a case of ‘play it again Khan’ for Paul McCloskey.
It appears that of all the boxing rings, in all the towns, in all the world, Khan wants to walk back into McCloskey’s – because a rematch between the two looks set to take place at the beginning of December.
And the Dungiven man will be looking to put the record straight against the man who calls himself ‘King Khan.’
When the two met last April Khan – who was the WBA light-welterweight champion at that time – beat McCloskey on a points stoppage win.
A clash of heads in the sixth round resulted in a cut above McCloskey’s eye and after consultation with the doctor the referee stopped the fight – much to the annoyance of McCloskey and his camp.
But it now seems the rematch that McCloskey has wanted is now on the cards.
And when contacted by the News Letter last night McCloskey said: “It’s still very early days but there has been contact – so all is good.
“The important thing for me was to get back in the mix last Saturday night by beating Manuel Perez.
“I did that it’s all good at the minute,” he added.
McCloskey’s manager Francie McNicholl added: “Both parties are serious.
“The dates being mentioned are 8 or 15 December in Manchester.
“If we are looking at either of the December dates, we need to get the fight finalised in the next two weeks.
“Because Paul will need a training camp of at least eight weeks.
“I would expect that something will be decided in the next week,” he added.
And McCloskey’s trainer John Breen wants the fight to happen.
“I have always said that Paul would beat Khan and I still believe that.
“The fight the last time was stopped over a cut, that was not a cut.
“Eamonn Magee wiped it with a towel and it stopped bleeding.
“The fight should not have been stopped.
“If Paul does what he does best and boxes he will beat Khan if the fight happens.
“Paul has promised me he will listen to my instructions and box to orders.
“He didn’t do that against DeMarcus Corley in the King’s Hall and he lost the fight.
“It is still very early in the talks between Paul’s camp and Khan’s people – so we will have to wait and see what happens,” added Breen.
And the trainer says he has number of fighters in action in the coming weeks.
“Kieran Farrell is out on October 12 and then Marc McCullough is fighting at the Ulster Hall on October 13.
“I then have Brendan Fitzpatrick fighting in Dublin in early November.
“I am also hoping to get a few boys on the Tyson Fury show at the Odyssey on December 1.
“They have booked the Odyssey and it seems Fury may base himself here to train,” he added.
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