‘Paul McCloskey’

© Click Image for more photos by Jane Warburton

At the MEN Arena, Manchester, Saturday night - Amir Khan retained his WBA Light Welterweight Title by a Technical Unanimous Decision after Challenger - Paul McCloskey was (controversially) stopped with a cut to the left eyebrow.

It was a fantastic atmosphere inside the MEN Arena as the 18,000 fans eagerly awaited the main event.

Legendary Michael Buffer announced the boxers and as fighting got under way, little did we know that the fight would be remembered – not for the performance of either man or the excitement of a thrilling fight – but for the angry scenes following a premature end.

Khan came out fast and busy as round one began, while calm McCloskey – with gloves dropped low – kept centre of ring. Khan whipped out the long-reaching lefts and rights with lightening speed but McCloskey looks unfazed as he fends off the Champion. ‘Dudey’ lands a decent swinging right hook mid-way through the second round but is less busy than ‘King’ Khan – seemingly ‘waiting’.

Mid-way through the third McCloskey gets in with a right, but continues to ‘wait’ while Khan has moments of frenzied cluster punches (a bit cat-like I thought!)

Just before the closing bell of the third frame, Referee Luis Pabon calls both men together after Khan hits ‘back of head’. Luis Pabon though would be far more notable for other reasons tonight! More...

Last night at Belfast's historic King's Hall, light welter Paul McCloskey retained his European title in a difficult contest against experienced Italian operator Giuseppe Lauri.

Making the first defense of the European crown won against Spanish champ Daniel Rasilla last November, southpaw McCloskey struck paydirt early when Lauri was canvassed in the second frame.

But the former European Union and Italian titlist beat the count and proceeded to drag the Irishman into a slugfest that suited the shorter visitor.

The more experienced challenger had no problems hitting McCloskey, who threw his boxing skills out the window in an attempt to produce another knockdown. In the tenth, McCloskey lost a point for use of the head and with that the bout was far closer going into the championship rounds than had been expected. More...

European Champion Paul McCloskey and mandatory challenger Giuseppe Lauri have weighed in ahead of their clash in the main event of the Yanjing Beer Fight Night at The King's Hall in Belfast tonight.

The action at The King's Hall gets underway at 6:30pm with the main event live on Sky Sports 2 from 10:30pm. More...

European Champion Paul McCloskey has teamed up with old rival Colin Lynes as he steps up preparations for the first defence of his title on the Yanjing Beer Fight Night at the Kings Hall, Belfast on Friday, June 11th.

McCloskey headlines a big night of championship boxing at one of the sports legendary venues when he takes on mandatory challenger Giuseppe Lauri while the chief supporting bout will see Stephen Haughian taking on former British champ, Kevin McIntyre for the Celtic Welterweight title. More...

Big time boxing returns to Belfast with a bang next month with a night of Championship boxing at the legendary Kings Hall.

European Light Welterweight King Paul McCloskey headlines the Yanjing Beer Fight Night there on Friday, June 11th as he makes the first defence of his crown against mandatory challenger Giuseppe Lauri while the chief supporting bout will see Stephen Haughian taking on former British champ, Kevin McIntyre for the Celtic Welterweight title. More...

European Light Welterweight King Paul McCloskey has no intention of abdicating his throne when he faces mandatory challenger Giuseppe Lauri at The King's Hall, Belfast on Friday, June 11th.

The undefeated Dungiven southpaw stretched his perfect record to 20 straight wins last time out with an impressive stoppage victory over Daniel Rasilla to capture the European crown and he says he's ready to fulfill another career milestone by headlining at the King's Hall next month. More...

While local hero Paul McCloskey will be looking to be crowned European Light Welterweight Champion at the Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt on Friday night the undercard will feature a new heavyweight hopeful taking the first steps in his professional career.

At the age of 33, David “Hardway” Hanna is unlikely to be referred to as a young gun in the heavyweight division but the Lisburn native will make his pro debut believing that he still has plenty of time to fulfil his boxing ambitions. More...

By Per Ake Persson

Ex-WBA and WBC cruiser champ Jean Marc Mormeck´s debut as heavyweight set for November 20 against Vinny Maddalone is postponed until December 17 after Mormeck was injured in training. If Maddalone remains as opponent appears to be an open question. More...

Paul McCloskey’s European title dream is still alive and well despite Souleymane M’baye’s withdrawl from their scheduled European Light Welterweight title fight at the Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt next Friday night, November 6.

McCloskey had been set to challenge the Frenchman for his European crown but a bicep injury has forced M’baye to withdraw from the bout and vacate the European title. However promoter Barry Hearn has moved quickly to secure a replacement in the shape of Spanish Champion, Daniel “Cobra” Rasilla who will now contest the vacant title with McCloskey in Magherafelt. More...

Belfast’s British Featherweight Champion Martin Lindsay admits he’s relishing the chance to shine in front of his own fans when he features on the undercard of Paul McCloskey’s European title challenge at the Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt on Friday, November 6.

McCloskey takes on reigning European Light Welterweight Champ Souleymane M’baye just 20 minutes down the road from his hometown of Dungiven while Lindsay’s supporters are also expected to be out in force as he bids to extend his unbeaten record. More...

Twenty years on from the last Derry man to be crowned European Champ Paul McCloskey will bid to follow in Charlie Nash’s footsteps by winning a European title on home soil.

Nash enjoyed home advantage for his 1979 European Lightweight title win over French man Andre Holyk and McCloskey will be hoping that history repeats itself when he looks to take the European Light Welterweight title off another French man, former World Champ, Souleymane M'baye when they clash in Magherafelt, County Derry on Friday, November 6.

Nash enjoyed home advantage for his 1979 European Lightweight title win over French man Andre Holyk and McCloskey will be hoping that history repeats itself when he looks to take the European Light Welterweight title off another French man, former World Champ, Souleymane M'baye when they clash at the Magherafelt, County Derry on Friday, November 6.

The state of the art Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt opened last year and is the largest indoor arena of it’s kind in Europe. With the venue under half an hour’s drive from McCloskey’s hometown of Dungiven it promises to be the perfect location for the 30-year-old’s bid for continental glory. More...

Paul McCloskey will finally get his chance at a European title on July 3rd but the undefeated Derry man will have to concede home advantage by travelling to France to battle it out with former World Champion Souleymane M'baye for the vacant European Light Welterweight title.

McCloskey was made an offer that manager and trainer John Breen admitted was simply too good to refuse to travel to Paris to take on M’baye. “They made us a very, very good offer to go to France but Paul’s one of those guys who has no problems going into the lions den,” said Breen. More...

With regard to the vacant European Light Welterweight title fight between nominated challengers Paul McCloskey and Souleymane M'baye, purse bids have been suspended as both parties have come to an agreement.

Northern Ireland southpaw McCloskey, 19-0 (9), won the British title last December and has recorded on succesfull defense. More...

By Per Ake Persson

Spanish all-time great Javier Castillejo, 40, comes back April 4 in the big indoor bullfighting arena in Leganes against compatriot Pablo Navascues. Castillejo, 62-8-0-1 and a world champ at both junior middle and middleweight, comes off a bad KO loss to Sebastian Sylvester last year and is at the crossroads of a long and glorious career that began back in 1988. More...

**With Slideshow**

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

Last night at the Kingsway Leisure Centre in Widnes, England, Matchroom Sports hosted a fight night headlined by the British Light Welterweight title clash between Paul McCloskey and Dean Harrison.

Northern Ireland's McCloskey won the title last time out defeating Colin Lynes and was to face Scottish boxer Barry Morrison last night, but Morrison pulled out with a virus, leaving Wolverhampton's Dean ʽDeanoʼ Harrison standing in at just 10 days notice.

Harrison entered the ring to huge support from the Wolverhampton fans, whoʼd travelled to Widnes.

McCloskey also had support from the Irish contingent. Flanked by trainers John Breen and Eamonn McGee, the champion looked confident as he waited in the ring. More...