McCloskey waiting for date

24 February 2010 – By Cormac Campbell

Paul McCloskey hopes to get a date for his first European light-welterweight title defence against Guiseppe Lauri in the next two to three weeks.

Speaking to irish-boxing.com the unbeaten stylist said that competition for Sky TV dates means the Kings Hall contest could take place as late as June.

There is a lot of talk about May but that is just speculation, he said.

Hopefully I will find out in the next two or three weeks. Matchroom are just waiting for a TV date to come through and then I will begin full time training.

McCloskey, who has been recovering from a back injury is currently keeping in shape in St Canices, the Dungiven gym where he learnt to box.

Im still getting a bit of treatment on the back, but that should be ok in a few weeks. At the minute I am only doing light training at home. Im fit but I will step it up and begin going up to John Breen in Belfast when everything is confirmed.

McCloskey won the title by stopping Spaniard Daniel Rasilla in November, as such he admits waiting for a date is less stressful than before he became champion.

I was never one to get too annoyed when fights werent coming up, but when you dont have something you worry about when the chance will come. Now that Im champion I just want to get back in to fight.

Although unconfirmed, it is highly likely that awkward Italian Guiseppe Lauri (49-6 (28KO)) will be the man coming to Belfast as McCloskeys first challenger.

Im 95 per cent that it will be Lauri, McCloskey said.

He doesnt make it pretty but that might suit me. Whatever he does we will have a gameplan I can adapt and change during a fight.