AMIR KHAN’s pay TV ambitions may have suffered a knockout blow this week but there seems to be little danger of that happening against Paul McCloskey on Saturday, according to the betting on Betfair. Light welter-weight champion Khan is the massive 2-15 favourite to make a successful fourth defence of his WBA title at Manchester’s MEN Arena.

Punters on the betting exchange don’t fancy McCloskey’s chances against the champ, despite being undefeated in 22 fights. Odds of 8-1 suggest the 31-year-old Irishman will get found out against the 140lb king. The draw trades at 88-1.

With two knockouts in his last three fights, Khan is odds-on at 4-9 to win the bout by KO. The Bolton-born star can be backed at 7-2 for victory by judges’ decision. Meanwhile McCloskey is a 12-1 shot to knockout the champ and a 21-1 chance to triumph by decision.

Betfair’s Alex Bake said: “McCloskey’s team will be hoping that this week’s pay TV row has distracted Khan from the job in hand. But our customers aren’t buying into that and they’re backing the champ to retain his crown.”

Khan v McCloskey – Betfair bet: 2-15 Khan, 8-1 McCloskey, 88-1 the draw

Method of victory – Betfair bet: 4-9 Khan KO, 7-2 Khan decision, 12-1 McCloskey KO, 21-1 McCloskey decision