I have to disagree with you there, but that is nonsense. I have been to a few McCloskey shows and there hasnt been one incident - certainly not that I have noticed. The vast majority of the boxing crowd, go for one reason only, the entertainment of a good night of boxing. I highly doubt there will be anyone going over with the intentions of starting trouble - that premeditated **** is for the football hooligans belonging to some sort of gang.
Oh come off it. With manchester so easily accessible from Ireland, are you seriously suggesting that not one group, however small would come over for trouble, or would respond with violence if provoked? In the same way that there wouldn't be a bunch of people there to support Khan, Murray, Watson or whoever that would happily get involved in a fight if provoked? These aren't neccesarily boxing 'fans' at all. It doesn't matter that there hasn't been incidents in McCloskey fights in the past or not, this is a big arena show with loads of casual pissed up men. All it takes is for a small group to take exception to a chant or what somebody has said and you get trouble. People get in to scuffles when drunk, it happens. I'm not picking on the Irish here at all-there fans always seem to be top notch on the RTE shows I've watched but, the trouble could come from anywhere. I've been to loads of these sorts of shows over the last couple of years and it always kicks off at some point. Why would this one be any different?
Are we talking about a few pissed-up lads throwing hand-bags before going onto doing whetever it was they were doing.....or are we talking about 'Football Factory' type brawls like most on here are suggesting. Because if it's the former, then yes, that's likely to happen at most sporting events of this kind.
I have been going to shows in Ireland since the days of McGuigan and Hugh Russell. Generally speaking, boxing punters do not go to a show with premeditated intentions of causing trouble. Boxing is the one sport in Northern Ireland were both sides of the community go to enjoy the boxing. If it happens it is likely a result of provocation, or if some idiot cannot handle their drink etc. Which can happen at any large arena, whether it is a sports event or a rock concert, it isnt particular to the boxing crowd.
Obviously if the khan fans start a fight the irish boys wont be shy about defending themselves and finishing it but there wont be irish lads looking for trouble.... there never is not in football boxing rugby or what ever thats a "british" thing that we dont subscribe to...
Oh, well I'm not on about organised violence or any of that ****. I'm just on about the typical boxing crowd stuff when a couple of groups wind each other up to the point of fisticuffs and one of those mad security rushes up the stairs in the cheap seats where it's kicking off. Think I probably misunderstood you to be honest. Thought you were saying there wouldn't be any crowd trouble at all.
And obviously if the Irish fans start a fight, the Khan fans will react too. Try not to push the bull**** notion that it's only the Khan fans who are out to make trouble. But like I said. Nothing is going to kick off.
I was not at the Mallinagi weigh in but was at the fight, and as far as i could see Khan supporters did not start anything, but i can tell you one thing the abuse they got was unreal, over the top and way out of order and if they had kicked off i for one would not have blamed them in the slightest, It went beond racisim and there is no need for it anywere especially not at a fight, as a proud irishman who is going to the fight i hope to **** i dont here anything even resembling the abuse i heard that night from any of my fellow country men or women, Me and near 120 friend and family are going to support Jamie Kavanagh firstly and Paul second , with a bit of luck we will be celebrating 2 win's and have a good night / weekend topped off on saturday with a few beers and a bit of friendly banter of with khan support's
well we already know who's going to win if a fight breaks out.... [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msFljrJ7M4A[/ame]