British boxer Aamir to defend world title today

MANCHESTER: Pakistan-origin British boxer Aamir Khan will enter in arena here today to defend his the World Boxing Association (WBA) light-welterweight title against Paul McCloskey of Northern Ireland.

Aamir Khan, 24, insists he is fully focused on his world title defence against Paul McCloskey on Saturday to set up a world title unification fight against American Timothy Bradley, who holds the World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Organisation (WBO) titles.

Khan, 24, maintains he is unconcerned by the huge reduction in the size of his purse and is confident he will come through McCloskey.

There have already been discussions for Khan to face Bradley in America on July 23, but the 2004 Olympic silver medalist insists he is not overlooking the threat posed by unbeaten European champion McCloskey.

"I'm so focused on my job, and my job is to fight and win. McCloskey's going to come to win but I'm the best guy he has fought. He has never fought anyone who is as strong or quick as me.

McCloskey, 31, is confident he can ruin Khan's plans to face Bradley and aims to exploit the Bolton boxer's punch resistance in front of 16,000 fans.

Khan was rocking in the tenth round of his last fight against Argentina's Marcos Maidana in December and was halted in the first round by Colombian Breidis Prescott - his only professional defeat - in 2008.