Amir Khan Vs Paul McCloskey Fight Card

Amir Khan will lead a fantastic bill on Saturday, April 16 as he returns home to defend his WBA Super Lightweight World Title against undefeated European Champion Paul McCloskey at the M.E.N Arena.

In what is sure to be an action-packed night presented by Hatton Promotions in association with Khan Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions, some of British boxing’s hottest prospects will be featured including world title contender and European Middleweight Champion Matthew Macklin who takes on savvy German Khoren Gevor, British Welterweight Champion Craig Watson who will defend his belt against Lee “Lights Out” Purdy and rising star Scott Quigg lined up to face tough Andrei Isaeu.

“I am proud to showcase some of the most exiting and talented young champions from the Hatton Promotions stable on what I believe is one of the best undercards that has been staged in the history of the M.E.N. Arena,” said Hatton Promotions president Ricky Hatton. “The chief support for this card sees Matthew Macklin take on Khoren Gevor, with the winner looking for a world title shot.

“It is the philosophy of Hatton Promotions to stage well matched and entertaining fights. Craig Watson, Scott Quigg, Martin Murray and Anthony Crolla are four champions who are never in a dull fight and who will hopefully be challenging for world titles themselves in the near future,” Hatton continued. “On top of that, we have prospects like Richard Towers, Adam Etches, Tasif Khan and Dezzie Higginson all hoping to make their mark as they move up the professional rankings.”

President of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar de la Hoya agreed when he stated, “When we decided to bring Amir’s next fight back to his hometown fans in Manchester, we wanted to have a stacked undercard to support him. This is exactly what the fans will be getting on April 16, with an excellent co-feature of Macklin vs. Gevor along with the other British stars being featured. We’re also excited to bring Ireland’s up-and-coming star Jamie “The Nuisance” Kavanagh closer to home in his first professional fight outside of the United States.”

The full fight list includes: Matthew Macklin vs. Khoren Gevor, Craig Watson vs. Lee Purdy (British welterweight title) Scott Quigg vs. Andrei Isaeu (WBA super bantamweight interim title), Martin Murray vs. John Carvalho (WBA middleweight interim title),Dezzie Higginson vs. Andy Murray, Jamie Kavanagh vs. TBA, Richard Towers vs. TBA, Adam Etches vs. TBA and Tasif Khan vs. TBA.

“King Khan Returns,” the WBA super lightweight 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 Hatton Promotions in association with Khan Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions. The event will produced and broadcast live on Sky Box Office and in high definition on Sky Box Office HD in the U.K., with the main event being aired on a delayed basis in United States on HBO.

U.K. viewers can order the fight on Sky Box Office for £14.95 by calling 08442 410 888.

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.

Fighters Biographies

MATTHEW MACKLIN
Date of Birth: 15/4/82
Hometown: Birmingham
Pro Record: 28-2 (19 by KO)

MATTHEW MACKLIN missed out on a dream Las Vegas debut in April when Winky Wright pulled out of their fight injured, but remained focused on the world title trail.

Macklin, 28, is now in his tenth year as a professional after turning his back on a potential law degree after one year at Coventry University.

Undoubtedly his greatest win came in September 2009 when he was promoted by Hatton Promotions. Then, he knocked out Finland’s Amin Asikainen in 154 seconds to become European champion.

He soon relinquished that title, but won it for the second time last year against Georgian Shalva Jomardashvili, but vacated again earlier this year when the Wright fight was signed.

In September 2006, Macklin was involved in one the greatest domestic fights ever when he gave his all before succumbing in ten rounds to Jamie Moore in a British light-middleweight title fight.

Although from Birmingham, the former British title holder has a big Irish following. His father is from Roscommon and mother from Tipperary.

He recently signed a deal with Golden Boy Promotions who are keen to make sure he fights for a major 160lb title in the near future.

KHOREN GEVOR
Date of Birth: 16/3/79
Hometown: Hamburg, Germany
Pro Record: 31-5 (16 by KO)

ARMENIAN born Khoren Gevor is one of the middleweight division gatekeepers and targeting a fourth world title fight.

He has been a professional since 2000 and boxed most of his career in Germany although he has also fought in Hungary and Australia.

Gevor won minor titles early in his career, but stepped up to world level in August 2007 when he gave a good account of himself against then IBF champion Arthur Abraham before being knocked out in 11 rounds.

In the following year, he briefly held the European crown when he beat Amin Asikainen in seven rounds to earn a second world title shot.

In July 2009, he faced Felix Sturm for the WBA title and ran the German star close before dropping a points verdict after 12 closely fought rounds.

Another world title shot followed last year, but he again fell short in a WBA challenge losing on points against Dimitri Sartison.

CRAIG WATSON
Date of Birth: 7/2/83
Hometown: Oldham
Pro Record: 20-3 (8 by KO)

CURRENT British welterweight champion Craig Watson is best known for flooring Amir Khan at the back end of their amateur careers in 2006, before the Olympic silver medalist went on to claim a convincing points victory.

Watson turned professional straight after that ABA championships defeat and is described as an old school fighter by many in the British trade, often taking short notice jobs.

He won the Commonwealth welterweight title in December 2007 when he stopped Namibian veteran Ali Nuumbembe on an eighth round cuts stoppage.

Watson’s greatest hour as a professional came in front of 58,000 spectators at City of Manchester Stadium in May 2008 when he successfully defended that title with a unanimous points win over Matthew Hatton.

Last April, Watson won the Commonwealth light-middleweight crown stopping Badru Lusambya inside two rounds despite taking the fight at four days’ notice, but relinquished that title recently.

In February he travelled to London and avenged a previous defeat to John O’Donnell soundly outpointing the Gypsy fighter to claim the British title.

SCOTT QUIGG
Date of Birth: 9/10/88
Hometown: Bury
Pro Record: 21-0 (14 by KO)

SCOTT QUIGG has hardly lost a round since turning professional four years ago and is going to no expense spared in his bid to become an elite fighter.

He has spent around £10,000 on two training trips to America spending time at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym.

Quiet man Quigg has been nurtured well by trainer Brian Hughes and matched astutely by Hatton Promotions Director of Boxing, Richard Poxon.

Quigg is now ranked in the top ten by the WBA after winning the inter-continental super-bantamweight crown last September with a third round KO of Santiago Allione.

He has made one defence out pointing durable Frenchman Daniel Kodjo Sassou.

In the next 12 months there could be attractive domestic fights ahead against the likes of Jason Booth and Rendall Munroe.

MARTIN MURRAY
Date of Birth: 27/9/82
Hometown: St Helens
Pro Record: 21-0 (8 by KO)

ST HELENS is world famous for its rugby league team, but Commonwealth and WBA international champion Martin Murray is enhancing the town’s boxing reputation.

The first three years of Murray’s career was spent learning his trade on undercards, but he burst onto the scene winning titles in back-to-back contests last year.

In May, Murray scored a shutout points win over Australian Peter Mitrevski Jr to claim the Commonwealth 168lb strap.

When he last fought in November, Murray knocked out Brazil’s former WBO world title challenger Carlos Nascimento to claim his international crown.

He is currently ranked six by the WBA and one of the fights he’s chasing is an all-British clash against Matthew Macklin.

ADAM ETCHES
Date of Birth: 26/1/1991
Hometown: Sheffield
Pro Record: 3-0 (2 by KO)

HATTON Promotions starlet Adam Etches is one of the most exciting novices pros in Britain and in time will become a leading light.

Etches, 19, recently gave up work as a nightclub doorman to concentrate on training full-time under Andy Marlow and Bob Shannon.

The Yorkshireman comes from a kick boxing background and had just 30 amateur fights before turning professional last year.

His first two paid opponents Lester Walsh and Ian Jackson lasted two rounds and one round respectively.

Etches went into his last fight with a damaged hand, but dominated winning every round against Estonian import, Aleksei Tsatiasvili.

The youngster is hugely popular and personally sells around 350 tickets each time he fights.

RICHARD TOWERS
Date of Birth: 8/8/79
Hometown: Sheffield
Pro Record: 9-0 (7 by KO)

RICHARD TOWERS might be the wrong side of 30, but his big-hitting wins are making him a serious contender for British honours.

‘The Inferno’ isn’t scared to admit that a lot of his adult life was spent in prison, but he on the straight and narrow after joining up Brendan Ingle MBE

During his incarceration Richard learnt self-control and discipline through training and, in particular, practicing the “lines technique”. He undertook this style of boxing prior to his conviction and has since developed his technique with Ingle.

On leaving prison, and with his former life behind him, Richard has devoted his future to boxing and aiding his local community by becoming a role model to the younger generation. Richard is has become a frequent visitor to local schools and youth centres.

Now training with Ingle and his two sons at St Thomas’ Gym, Wincobank, Sheffield – “the gold mine of champions”, Towers has vowed to make the most of his second chance and fight his way to the top.

DEZZI HIGGINGSON
Date of Birth: 31/7/82
Hometown: Blackburn
Pro Record: 13-8-1 (4 by KO)

DEZZI HIGGINSON is on a three fight winning streak since failing in an English lightweight title fight against Martin Gethin which he lost on points in January 2010.

Higginson won just three of his first ten professional fights, but us making the most of his opportunities since teaming up with Hatton Promotions.

Last month he scored an impressive third round stoppage of Robin Deakin and is moving back into championship contention.