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Fitzgerald: Saunders would have retired McCloskey

ANTHONY Fitzgerald believes Paul McCloskey dodged a bullet that would have killed any hopes of a return to the big time when he pulled out of a bout with Bradley Saunders.

‘Dudey’ was scheduled to fight the English prospect live on BoxNation next month, but was forced to pull out with a knee injury. McCloskey had hoped to use the clash to get his career back on track after a surprise and somewhat controversial reverse to Dave Ryan last December.

However Fitzgerald, Saunders MGM training partner believes instead of re entering the spotlight on March 28 McCloskey would have been forced to exit stage left.

“No disrespect to Paul, but I have seen Saunders up close and personal and I think he fought Saunders it would have been his last fight,” Fitzgerald says.

“All of I have seen of Saunders suggests he is world class. I think he would have stopped Paul in the middle rounds. Saunders is heavy handed and talented. He is world class and applies a world class attitude to his training and the way he lives his life.”

Fitzgerald is currently sorting out a neck issue which has been bothering him for a number of fights, but is on the mend and looking forward to returning to the ring as a light middleweight.

“I haven’t spared yet so until then I won’t really know how my neck really is, but at the minute it seams fine. I am having no trouble with it and they experts are confident there are no problems. I am just ticking over and I am looking forward to getting back to fighting.”

irishboxing

Integral part of the Irish boxing community for over 13 years

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