McCloskey Marcos a step closer to being Maid

By Jonny Stapleton

PAUL McCloskey has taken a significant step towards a massive fight WBA light welterweight champion Marcos Maidana.

Champion Maidana this week rebuffed an offer to fight Humberto Soto and has switched his focus to ‘Dudey’ and a mega bout in Belfast this winter.

The heavy handed Argentine has continually expressed his respect for Twitter buddy McCloskey and repeatedly stated if the money was right he would have no problem facing the former European Champion.

In fact Golden Boy promotion’s Richard Schaefer stressed he has received an offer from Team McCloskey and preliminary negotiations for what could prove one the biggest fight Ireland has ever seen are underway.

“We have received an offer from the McCloskey people to fight Maidana. What we will do now is review that offer with Maidana’s people and then get back to Eddie Hearn,” Schaefer explained.

McCloskey’s fellow former Khan foe claims he is ‘ready’ to sign a deal once his financial agreements are met.

The box office fighter see’s the Derry stylist as a viable opponent, but claims its cash and not class that will secure McCloskey a second world title shot within a year.

EL Chino also re-confirmed he is willing to make the trip Belfast to face the fighter who beat Breidis Prescott in a world title eliminator last month.

“I am interested in fighting any of the top guys once I get enough time to prepare and 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 in a respectful way and I said I am ready to fight.

“We’ve been in contact with Paul’s manager before and we’ve been reading that they want me to defend my title against Paul in Belfast. If they come with the right offer I have not problem in fighting there in December or January.”