Khan vs McCloskey Undercard: Gary Buckland Added

By Phil D. Jay

Welsh super featherweight Gary Buckland has been belatedly brought in to help save the ailing undercard at the MEN Arena in Manchester on April 16th as Amir “King” Khan tops the bill in his fourth defense of the WBA light-welterweight title against Ireland’s Paul “Dudey” McCloskey.

The 24 year-old from Cardiff had lost just two bouts in 20, campaigning at lightweight and above until a chance to enter the Prizefighter super-featherweights tournament came along last November. “Dynamo” took the opportunity with both hands, knocking out British champion Gary Sykes and former WBU champion Derry Matthews to claim the £32,000 cheque.

Buckland has now decided to stay at the 130lb limit as he seeks a rematch with the previously unbeaten Sykes. The Yorkshireman’s Lonsdale belt was not on the line in the Prizefighter tournament because of its three round format and the championship format being over twelve rounds.

It is rumoured that Buckland with fight former world super-bantamweight title challenger Rafael Hernandez later this month, although the Venezuelan is pencilled in to fight next week for the WBC Youth featherweight title in Mexico, which may now be cancelled.

The Khan v McCloskey undercard has taken a battering in recent weeks, with Gavin Rees, Matthew Macklin, Adam Etches and most recently Scott Quigg, all pulling out of their respective slots on the bill and upsetting a lot of fans who paid up to £300 at ticket to be at the show.

Phil D. Jay covers the boxing scene as the editor of worldboxingnews.net.