McCloskey camp cut up by ‘staggering’ decision

PROMOTER Barry Hearn described the referee’s decision to stop Saturday night’s world title fight between Amir Khan and Dungiven southpaw, Paul McCloskey, as the “most staggering decision” he had ever seen in any ring in the world.

Khan’s defence of his WBA world light welterweight title against McCloskey was shaping up for a thrilling finish but ended in farce when the contest was stopped at the end of the sixth round after the European champion had sustained a cut over his eye from a clash of heads at the MEN in Manchester on Saturday night.

“The cut is almost non-existent, when you look at it,” Hearn said. “From what I saw of that referee he should never be allowed in a boxing ring again. You don’t take away people’s dreams like that and rob the paying public.