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...

Billy Walsh and Stephen Haughian will finally get it on for the Irish Welterweight title at the Craigavon Leisure Centre on February 7. Haughian has been eyeing a crack at the undefeated Corkman’s title ever since Walsh won it 12 months ago and now he’s got his wish.

“To be fighting so close to home is a dream come true and to fight for the Irish title is the icing on the cake,” said the Lurgan man. Haughian’s only up close and personal look at Walsh came when he appeared on the Leesider’s undercard in Cork two years ago and he says he saw enough night to know he can win. More...

Stephen Haughian believes he’s ready to start chasing down major titles in 2009. The County Armagh boxer will look to take his career to the next level when he headlines a first ever pro fight night at the Craigavon Leisure Centre in Northern Ireland on Saturday, February 7.

The Lurgan welterweight who trains out of John Breen’s Gym in Belfast is hoping to enjoy the same success in 2009 that gym mates Paul McCloskey and Martin Rogan enjoyed last year.

Both ended 2008 on a high with McCloskey claiming the British Light Welterweight title and Rogan ending any remaining world title aspirations that Audley Harrison might have had. More...

Notable Ulster prospect Paul McCloskey proved recent high profile victories were no fluke as the Dungiven southpaw forced the retirement of Colin Lynes at the end of nine rounds to capture the vacant British Light Welterweight title last night at Goresbrook Leisure Centre in Dagenham, England.

Lynes had previously held the IBO, British and European crowns and had been originally set to face David Barnes but late replacement McCloskey proved to be more than up to the challenge of the biggest fight of his five year career.

In the early going, Lynes was effective behind the jab and it looked like the more experienced man would have his way until the Irishman began to time his English counterpart and suddenly Lynes was missing and getting hit in return at an alarming rate.

McCloskey's awkward, upper body movement based defense with hands around his waist proved insurmountable to Lynes and with each miss from the former champion, McCloskey would counter with short inside shots to both head and body.

As the body shots and missed punches began to take their toll, Lynes became tired and frustrated as the energized McCloskey began to add taunting to the punishing mix that he applied to the Londoner. More...

There were two shows of note last night, at University Arena in Limerick, Ireland and one Merseyside at the Olympia in Liverpool, England.

At Limerick, local hero Andy Lee, 16-1 (13), returned home after a disastrous first loss, to Brian Vera in America last March, and regained his form by dramatically stopping Philadelphia boxer Willie "The Gladiator" Gibbs, 20-4 (16), at the end of the tenth and final round of their bout.

Lee put his height advantage and southpaw stance to good use, keeping the American at arm's length for most of the night and rattling off crisp combinations that generally found their mark.

The veteran Gibbs tried to make up what was clearly becoming a ever widening points gap by winging big shots but his faulty defense led to a near knockout loss in the middle rounds as he was battered pillar to post by the Irishman.

Gibbs survived the ordeal and simply couldn't get to Lee until the last round when he connected with over rights that had the Limerick lad in deep water. A referee telling off of Gibbs for use of the head gave Lee time to clear the cobwebs and he was soon hammering Gibbs to the canvas. More...

Andy Lee and Willie Gibbs will weigh in for this Saturday's Ladbrokes.com Fight Night today in Limerick prior to their final pre fight press conference.

Also on hand will be all the undercard boxers including the unbeaten Paul McCloskey and English Champion Nigel Wright, who square off in the chief support bout at the University Arena on Saturday night. More...

Paul McCloskey is hoping that an impressive win over English Champion Nigel Wright on the Ladbrokes Fight Night at the University Arena in Limerick, Ireland on July 19 will land him the title shot which he desperately craves.

The County Derry stylist is unbeaten in 16 pro fights and he says he’s ready for a title shot be that on the British, European or World stage.“I feel I’m ready for anyone right now,” said the Dungiven native. “I’m 28, so I don’t have any time to waste and I’d jump at the chance of fighting for a major title.” More...

Saturday, March 29. For the first time in his career Paul McCloskey was taking charge of a ship, one which belonged to a fleet of Brian Peters' promoted boxing events taking place in recent weeks.

McCloskey was calm in the build up. One assumed that with his first big occasion looming ahead of him, the Derry man would have displayed some nerves or apprehension. Instead, the week preceding the fight presented a Paul McCloskey who smiled politely at the fights mention and mingled easily with the press.

Opposing him, Cesar Bazan, a fighter who had been a world title holder at lightweight, fighting with passion in each bout and in the Mexican spirit, was not going to surrender, even at a time when his greatest achievements are memories now overshadowed by his losses to greater, more notable opposition.

Indeed, his opposition had been well documented in the fightʼs promotion. With over half a century of fights on his record, Bazan had never ran from or alluded any opponent. His record contains a couplet of losses to two truly great fighters in fellow Mexican Jose Luis Castillo and the Puerto-Rican Welterweight sensation, Miguel Cotto.

For Paul McCloskey, this elevation in the level of competition would serve as his certification. With a successful result, McCloskeyʼs professional apprenticeship would be complete and he could begin to advance into the fistic world.

The fight itself was a joy for any journalist. Every round was incredibly similar and if one were to pen a detailed report of the first round, the author could easily pass it off as a report of any of the nine rounds that followed. More...

Light welter prospect Paul McCloskey took and important step last night by claiming victory over former WBC Lightweight Champion Cesar Bazan at the Leisure Complex in Letterkenny.

Despite his great experience, Bazan is no longer the fighter he once was in the late 1990's and was made to order for the Ulster prospect, who rattled off many southpaw combinations on the way to sweeping the card of the referee Emile Tiedt 100-91 after ten rounds. More...

© Aidan Walsh

Paul McCloskey and Cesar Bazan both weighed in at the first time of asking ahead of tomorrow nights Hunky Dorys Fight Night at the Letterkenny Leisure Centre. The full weigh in details are below. More...