McCloskey and Marcos far from being Maid

By Jonny Stapleton
A pay dispute has put Paul McCloskey’s dream world title fight with Marcos Maidana in serious jeopardy.

The WBA light welterweight champion and boxing mega star had agreed in principle to defend against the Derry Stylist in Ireland in February, but the financial offer received this week has forced  him to explore other options.

The Argentine knock out specialist’s manager Sebastian Contursi revealed Maidana, who like McCloskey has Khan previous, saw ‘Dudey’ as a viable opponent and was keen to compete in what would have been one of the biggest fights ever to come to Ireland.

However, despite stressing the Dungiven star can compete in the ring against the best in the world Contursi revealed McCloskey can not compete financially with bigger American names.

The manager said McCloskey’s promoters Matchroom Sports promised the world but delivered very little and as it stands the fight is off.

“We were talking and happy to make the fight with Paul McCloskey for late February and we were happy to have that fight in Ireland, but I don’t think it’s going to happen now,“ Contursi told Mirror Sport.

“Our promoter Golden Boy Promotions sent us an offer made by promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom. We have been reading in the news that they were willing to make an offer that we couldn’t refuse. However, the offer made is far from reusable. It is not good enough for a world champion. We  have some good proposals other than McCloskey’s which  will now be discussed in person with Richard Schaefer in Los Angeles this weekend. I personally think it would be a very good fight since McCloskey is a warrior whom Amir Khan couldn’t even beat convincingly and then, he beat Breidis Prescott.”

Maidana himself stressed finance would dictate if he came to Ireland or not.

 

“I am interested in fighting any of the top guys once I get the kind of money I deserve. McCloskey is a warrior and he has taken on his last two opponent’s Khan and Prescott without out crying. I respect that type of fighter. He called me out respectfully and I said I am ready to fight him.

 

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