Philippines, 16 Dec 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


'KING' KHAN READY FOR MCCLOSKEY CHALLENGE THIS SATURDAY FOLLOWING FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE

PhilBoxing.com




MANCHESTER, APRIL 14 - The 'King Khan Returns' final press conference took place today at the Manchester Town Hall ahead of an explosive night of boxing at the M.E.N Arena this Saturday night which will be televised live on Primetime Pay-Per-View (Channel 480 on Sky) in the United Kingdom and on tape delay in the United States on HBO's World Championship Boxing.

McCloskey has made the trip over from Northern Ireland in the hope of crashing the homecoming of local hero Amir 'King' Khan, who will fight for the first time in Britain since his first round stoppage of Dmitriy Salita in December 2009.

Both fighters looked confident and were in great shape, with all the undercard fighters present including Rendell Munroe, Craig Watson, Martin Murray, Gary Buckland and Jamie Kavanagh.

The press conference was hosted by boxing legend turned boxing promoter Oscar de la Hoya, who was keen to emphasize that this was not a fight to be missed.

Amir Khan

"I'm looking forward to this fight and am not letting anything distract me. I've had an excellent camp with my trainer Freddie Roach and new conditioner Michael Vale. We did some great work in Los Angeles and the Philippines, and I know that McCloskey has been giving his all in training.

"Some people think this fight is going to be an easy one for me but they're wrong. Every fight I go into I train like I'm the challenger and this time has been the same. McCloskey is hungry and after my world title, so I can't look beyond him."

"There has been talk of a unification fight with Timothy Bradley in the summer, but I can't think about anything like that because McCloskey is the man I need to get past. I feel strong and am just looking forward to getting in the ring now. The wait is the hardest part because I have done the hard work and am just eager to get into there and do the business on Saturday night."

Paul McCloskey

"I know Amir Khan is a good fighter but I believe he is beatable. The support in Northern Ireland has been immense, they have my posters everywhere. Training has been intense because I know this is my shot to become a world champion."

"I have always believed that I would be a world champion and now my time has come. There will be a strong Irish contingent coming over and I won't disappoint."

"I always trust in myself but I'm going to shock the boxing world this weekend when I'm victorious."

Oscar de la Hoya

"This is going to be a great fight, and that is a word I do not use lightly. What you have are two fighters in their prime, with styles that will make for enthralling viewing. Amir showed the level he is now at by crossing the pond to take on the slick Paulie Malignaggi before that epic encounter with one of the hardest punchers in boxing, Marcos Maidana.

"Amir was eager to show his heart in that fight. He could have beaten Maidana by using his superior boxing skills but he was keen to make it a fight his fans would love and that says a lot about him. Amir is a crowd pleaser, and on Saturday night he will be sure to turn on the fireworks."

"Nobody should underestimate McCloskey. I have seen his fights and know that he has true fighting spirit. He will be aiming to become a world champion this weekend and a hungry fighter is a dangerous fighter. This will be one hell of a fight."

Asif Vali: Khan Promotions

"The response we have had from this fight has been phenomenal, we only have a handful of tickets left and are expecting a sell out at the M.E.N. Amir is looking forward to his return fight and has prepared brilliantly. I'm sure McCloskey will be in the best shape of his life, so the fans can expect an amazing night of boxing action."



"King Khan Returns," the WBA Light Welterweight Championship fight featuring Amir "King" Khan defending his title against undefeated European Champion Paul McCloskey on April 16 at the M.E.N Arena in Manchester, is a 12 round bout presented by in association with Khan Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions. The event will be broadcast live on Primetime Pay-Per-Viewin the U.K. at 8:00 PM BST, with the main event being aired on a delayed basis in United States on HBO's World Championship Boxing featuring the live WBC Welterweight World Title bout between Andre Berto and Victor Ortiz at 9:45 PM ET/6:45 PM PT.

To watch Amir Khan vs. Paul McCloskey live on Primetime, channel 480 on Sky, viewers must register beforehand online at www.primetimelive.co.uk or call 0871 200 4444* or using the 'On Demand' menu. Customers on Sky must register the first time they use Primetime and once registered can purchase using the 'box office' menu. The fight will cost ?14.95 and a small one off registration fee will apply for customers new to Primetime. Those without Sky can watch the fight streamed live on www.primetimelive.co.uk for ?14.95.

Tickets for Khan vs. McCloskey, priced at ?300, ?200, ?125, ?75, ?50 and ?40, are on sale now and may be purchased at the M.E.N. Arena Box Office, by calling +44(0)8448478000, or online at www.ticketmaster.co.uk or www.men-arena.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.amirkhanworld.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/AmirKingKhan or visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing or www.facebook.com/AmirKhanTheOfficialPage.




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Vargas urges boxers to defy odds
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 16 Dec 2025
  • GIORGIO VISIOLI SETS OUT MISSION TO LAND MAJOR TITLES AFTER TENSE FIRST FACE-OFF WITH ENGLISH TITLE RIVAL JOE HOWARTH
    , Tue, 16 Dec 2025
  • Kevin Brown and Yoenis Tellez Shine at Boxlab Promotions’ “Night of Champions XIII” During the 104th Annual WBA Convention
    , Tue, 16 Dec 2025
  • TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Justin Cardona Shares Insights Ahead of December 19 Showdown Against Avious Griffin
    , Tue, 16 Dec 2025
  • JAS MATHUR JOINS MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS AS CEO TO LEAD STRATEGIC VISION, CREATIVITY AND GLOBAL GROWTH INITIATIVES
    , Tue, 16 Dec 2025
  • Split-T Management Signs Amateur Standout Adrian Salazar
    , Tue, 16 Dec 2025
  • INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME REMEMBERS CANASTOTA’S MANAGER / TRAINER / PROMOTER TONY GRAZIANO
    , Mon, 15 Dec 2025
  • Catubig, Prado win Suy Foods Santa Run
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 15 Dec 2025
  • Junior, Youth and Elite Divisions Awarded on Final Day of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
    , Mon, 15 Dec 2025
  • Jean Henri Lhuillier Applauds Cebuana Lhuillier Ambassadors for Bronze Finish at SEA Games 2025
    , Mon, 15 Dec 2025
  • NOEL MIKAELIAN DETHRONES BADOU JACK TO BECOME THE NEW WBC CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION
    , Sun, 14 Dec 2025
  • FM Alekhine Nouri tops Kamatyas chessfest
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 14 Dec 2025
  • Dante Kirkman Dominates DePriest Johnson in Unanimous Victory at Fight Club OC
    , Sun, 14 Dec 2025
  • Bantam and Intermediate Divisions Crowned on Day Five of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
    , Sun, 14 Dec 2025
  • Murat Gassiev Brutally Knocks Out Kubrat Pulev in Dubai
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 13 Dec 2025
  • United States Air Force Paralegals: Law, Order, and Excellence
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sat, 13 Dec 2025
  • OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR PACHECO VS SADJO IN STOCKTON
    , Sat, 13 Dec 2025
  • OFFICIAL WEIGHTS FROM TODAY'S CHM: 2 REMATCH SEASON CEREMONIAL WEIGH-INS IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
    , Sat, 13 Dec 2025
  • Donaire to fight Tsutsumi on December 17 in Japan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 13 Dec 2025
  • Nesthy faces Indon legend
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sat, 13 Dec 2025
  • Bob Santos Joins Broadcast Team for Boxlab Promotions’ “Night of Champions XIII” During WBA’s 104th Annual Convention
    , Sat, 13 Dec 2025
  • Championship Bouts Set for the Bantam and Intermediate Division
    , Sat, 13 Dec 2025
  • SEAG Triathlon, aquathlon, duathlon in Rayong
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 13 Dec 2025
  • Jeremy Marticio wins IIEE SIKAT, ICFF won PTC World Engineering Opening
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 13 Dec 2025
  • Facularin to fight Torres on December 13 in Japan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 12 Dec 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.