Boxing In Ireland: McCloskey Retains European Title Against Morrison

Top Irish boxer Paul McCloskey was in fine form on Saturday night as the Dungiven southpaw dismantled Scotland’s Barry Morrison over seven rounds in a European light welter title defense at the Leisure Centre in Letterkenny.

McCloskey commanded the centre of the ring from the start and by the third frame began to pick apart the former British champion with surgical precision.

As he couldn’t outbox the Continental ruler, Morrison tried to outmuscle McCloskey but that strategy resulted in the challenger touching the canvas in the fifth.

Knowing that he would need a knockout to win, Morrison went for broke but was countered mercilessly by McCloskey, who finished off the Scotsman at 1:28 of the seventh after another knockdown earlier in the round.

McCloskey moves to 22-0 (12) while retaining the European crown for the second time while Morrison has now lost three of his last five, all either British or European title clashes, falling to 18-5 (8).

Promising lightweight Andy Murray, 22-0 (12), headed up the undercard with a solid ten round points verdict over seasoned American based campaigner John Nolasco, 18-5-4 (8).

Two of the Cork Cubans were also in action as super bantam belter Alexei Acosta, 13-0 (13), hammered out Cristian Faccio, 20-5 (13), in four and light heavy Luis Garcia, 10-0 (8), finished off super middle Jorge Rodriguez Olivera, 20-2 (9), in the sixth frame.

Unbeaten featherweight Paul Hyland, 20-0 (10), stayed perfect with a six round points verdict over lightweight Yordan Vasilev, 7-18-2 (1), and heavyweight Coleman Barrett, 13-1 (2), outpointed Norbert Sallai, 10-16 (3), over six.