The 33 year-old from Dungiven, who was stopped on a seemingly harmless cut in the sixth round against Khan in April 2011, has been unimpressed with the former world champion since their meeting and is taken aback by talk of a possible clash with Mayweather.
“Khan hasn’t fought a top level welterweight yet,” McCloskey told World Boxing News.
“He obviously got beat by (Lamont) Peterson and sparked by (Danny) Garcia and then makes a comeback against a lightweight in Molina. Khan also struggled against a well past it Julio Diaz in his last fight so what on earth has he done to Merit a fight with Mayweather? – It’s completely ridiculous.”
Most of the rumours surrounding Mayweather at the moment are linking the WBC title holder to a bout with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez at the light-middleweight limit, although Khan is thought to be in the frame to challenge the richest sportsman in the world next year.
McCloskey is certain that Khan should learn to walk before he can run after only just moving up to 147 from his long-term weight at 140lbs, and says the Briton has plenty to prove before Mayweather even comes into play.
“Mayweather beat an excellent boxer/fighter in Robert Guerrero recently and still showed why he is the best pound for pound fighter in the world,” said McCloskey.
“If Khan is going up to 147 he should fight a top ten contender like (British rival) Kell Brook or someone like Josesito Lopez. He needs to earn his shot at the title or Mayweather like everyone else.”
