Irish Boxing

Senational McCloskey defends crown
3 October 2010 - Cormac Campbell European light-welterweight champion Paul McCloskey was back to his bamboozling best as he pummelled Scottish challenger Barry Morrison in seven one-sided rounds at the Aura, Letterkenny on Saturday night.
Before the contest unbeaten McCloskey, 22-0 (12KO), had promised a return to the slick, elusive style that earned him the British title via a sublime stoppage of Colin Lynes in December 2008. Since then the Dungiven man has been more banger than boxer – dispatching Dean Harrison, Daniel Rasilla and Guiseppe Lauri in displays more memorable for brawn rather than brains.
However, it was very different against Morrison. In the early rounds McCloskey stalked, observed and jabbed. Now and then he threw a shot with more intent – and as early as the first round McCloskey had found the shot to dismantle Morrison – a right hand high to the temple.
Towards the end of the opening three minutes McCloskey clipped Morrison with the shot – his legs stiffened a little. More was to follow. In the second, confident that he had measured Morrison’s time and distance, McCloskey stood in a little, bobbing and weaving and ripping in more hooks and uppercuts. Finding no success with headshots, Morrison began to focus on McCloskey’s body but despite making forceful contact with the torso on a number of occasions, he appeared unable to inflict any damage worth talking about.
By the fourth, McCloskey was in total domination. His rhythm, timing and sense of space were truly world class and it was apparent that Morrison, who brought a vocal crowd of nearly 100 fans from Motherwell, was on borrowed time.
In the fifth McCloskey brought the high right hand back into play. After landing clean, McCloskey stepped back and as if in slow motion, Morrison took a full second to absorb the shot before dropping to the canvas. Morrison rose, looking tired rather than hurt but returned for the sixth round with renewed vigour.
Going for broke, Morrison came out of the blocks, throwing barrages of shots in the hope of landing clean. However, McCloskey avoided most, and shook off what got through before trapping his tired opponent on the ropes and in the corners and letting rip. The end came in the seventh. Again McCloskey landed the right to the temple. Morrison slumped and with eyes in orbit, referee Mark Green did not even begin his count – waving the contest off after 1.28 of the round.
That McCloskey is good enough to fight for a world title is beyond dispute but whether he gets a shot is another matter entirely. After the contest he admitted that wanting something and getting it are two different things and one wonders whether McCloskey will have to secure a mandatory challenger slot and endure a lengthy wait to secure his chance.

 

Watched the fights on RTE Player. Marty Morrisey raided boxrec for all the information he had last night. That was obvious when he started talking about both fighters being ranked second in their countries. Great to see RTE employing commentators that have such a great knowledge of the sport!

 

really? beyond dispute? why, because he beats a shot Barry Morrison.

 

Why, are you saying that he isnt good or worthy enough of a world title shot:think

 

Morrison caught Paul way to easily last night he would need a big improvement in performance to mix at world level.

 

he willget a shot when alexander is stripped.what champs at 140 do you see him beating

 

yes I am. Let be honest he has fought **** all worth of getting him to a world title.

Maybe fight at least only person in the top 20 before looking for a world title shot.

Whilst we are being honest the matchmaking for the card was bollocks - bags of scrap heaped up against those with padded and protected records!

it might fool Mary and Eileen tuning in on RTE but anyone that has even the smallest about of knowledge about boxing knows what it was - a farce!

 

My theory is Lee's practicing his knockout tactics....... For a wee trip to Germany when he'll need that confidence and approach.

Saw quotes that he 'softened Lowry up with body shots' again, he's been laying into the ribcages over there too.

 

Only watched it from my tv set but it looked like a decent performance to me. Hes undefeated European champ, what did Khan do to get his title chance sweet FA. Mccloskey deserves his chance as much if not more than the likes of Khan, Burns, Dunne, Lockett, Jennings and all them others. But he might have to travel to America to get it.

 

Who did Khan defeat to get his chance:think, and he hadnt even fought at lightwelteratsch

 

so two wrong make a right do they?

Who has Paul beaten that makes him worthy of a world title shot.

 

did he draw those eye brows on with a felt tipped marker?

 

I am not trying to slag the guy he has real talent & is unlucky in that he is in probably the most competitive division in boxing.If he could fight and beat the likes of Kotelnik or Urango then you could talk about title fights.As it is if Bradley Khan ect connect as easilly as Morrison did it would be a quick and easy night for them.

 

Alexander told me that he doesnt plan on dropping the wbc belt because "I worked too hard to get it"

hes more likely to drop the ibf strap...