Prescott:I’ll knock McCloskey out

By Jonny Stapleton

Breidis Prescott knows Paul McCloskey will ‘be on his bike’ next Saturday night but plans to puncture the wheel, knock the Irish fighter out and deflate his world title hopes.

The Columbian is predicting a stoppage victory as the pair are set to trade leather in a WBA world title eliminator and stressed McCloskey’s box and move tactics will only prove to delay the inevitable.

Skill has been the buzz word in the ‘Dudey’ camp ahead of his bout with the renowned knock out artist, as the Dungiven man openly admits  he will chose a flair over a fight approach.

The fighter know as the ‘Khanqueror’ seems only to aware the former European Champion will aim to hit and not be hit and will avoid a brawl.

However, the only fighter to beat Amir Khan -Prescott knocked the English man within a round- is confident he will catch a fighter he claims is more awkward than slick, and take the short route to victory in the Odyssey Arena this weekend.

“We have a very good game plan. We know McCloskey will be on his bicycle throughout the fight but we will break him down. If he runs  I will be winning the rounds, landing clean punches and coming forward. I will knock him out. No question. If he moves I am confident I will break him down come round 10,11,12. It will be very hard for McCloskey next Saturday,” Prescott told Mirror Sport.

“All fighters can be hit. If Pernall Whitaker the best defensive fight of the last 20 yrs and he gets hit. Trust me McCloskey will get hit. He’s not slick he’s awkward but we have plans for that.”

The John Breen trained fighter admits he himself is awkward, in fact he boasts it as a trait and a ring advantage. Not too menttion the volume of the ‘Dudey Army’ and the fact McCloskey can pack the  Odyssey Arena suggest his style is entertaining and easy on the eye.

Whether you want to label him stylish or awkward the Dungiven man is certainly one thing, very unique.

However despite admitting it was impossible to find carbon copy sparring partners Prescott believes he will be ready for anything McCloskey pulls out of the tactics bag.

Speaking to Mirror Sport before he arrived in Belfast Prescott added,

“Training has gone very well we have been preparing for 8 weeks and we feel very confident in our game plan and conditioning for this fight. I sparred a total of 94 rounds for this fight. I have sparred all different types of southpaws from 140lbs to 154lbs. We feel that we got as close as a style to MCclosskey. He is very awkward so it was difficult. We are very satisfied with how all the sparring went.

“We’ve seen video of Paul, but I prefer just to let the fight happen in the ring. Sometimes video can be deceptive and when the bell ring the fighter fights nothing like the video so I think it’s more important to fight your fight and follow your game plan. It will be a great fight and I hope McCloskey is willing to put on a fan friendly fight for the great fans of Ireland.”