Paul McCloskey - Ireland's newest championee!

Vintagekits

*cough*Decent article*cough* - Will his guard catch him out when he steps up?

siochain

fair play to Paul McCloskey, I look forward to seeing many more of his fights

joepenguin

Funny enough i just read it before logging onto boards. It is a good article indeed. Should McLoskey defend the european belt for a while before going to the world stage? I suppose Kahn is where the money is and you cant depend on him being champ this time next year or whatever.

Could McLoskey take Kahn though?

walshb

joepenguin wrote: »

Funny enough i just read it before logging onto boards. It is a good article indeed. Should McLoskey defend the european belt for a while before going to the world stage? I suppose Kahn is where the money is and you cant depend on him being champ this time next year or whatever.

Could McLoskey take Kahn though?

Absolutely not. Paul is a stylist, awkward and all that, but not near fast enough or busy enough to beat Khan. Also, I don't think he has the punch to do it either. His opponent the other night was really limited and Khan would be far far tougher.

BTW, me clearly picking Khan over Paul is not me saying Khan is the best in the world. I just think he would be far too good for Paul

Rob113

I'd agree with Walshb on that one. I enjoyed the fight the other night - McCloskey looked awkward to fight and was always looking to land the big shots but the other guy was offering nothing in return. He was just covering up for the whole fight allowing McCloskey to leave his guard low for the whole fight. This wouldnt happen against Khan. He is far too quick and accurate. McCloskey wouldnt be able to fight at his own pace and his style would make it very easy for someone with the speed of khan to pick him off. He should make do with a couple of good EU title defences first before trying to chase a world title.

alanceltic

I find it very difficult to warm to McCloskey and judging by the lack of activity on this thread it would appear that I am not alone. To be fair to him he has just gone out and won a european title and has got next to no coverage or credit for it although the opponent doesnt help in this regard. Compare this to other success from our boxers and he must feel hard done by. If i was him I would stay well clear of Khan as he just doesnt have the strenght to keep him off and gets taken to school although I would dearly love to be proved wrong.

walshb

alanceltic wrote: »

I find it very difficult to warm to McCloskey and judging by the lack of activity on this thread it would appear that I am not alone. To be fair to him he has just gone out and won a european title and has got next to no coverage or credit for it although the opponent doesnt help in this regard. Compare this to other success from our boxers and he must feel hard done by. If i was him I would stay well clear of Khan as he just doesnt have the strenght to keep him off and gets taken to school although I would dearly love to be proved wrong.

alan, I see what you do with Paul. He can box and has all the shapes and moves, but there is just something clownish and unorthodox about him that won't see him get to the top.

He is so non technical, and those wild swings, leaping in just doesn't do it for me. He barely ever throws a decent straight punch or combination. Khan would be a nightmare opponent for Paul. Far too fast and skillful. He'd rip him to bits.

Big Ears

Rob113 wrote: »

He should make do with a couple of good EU title defences first before trying to chase a world title.

He has the European(EBU) title not the EU(which is what Andy Murray has), sorry if I seem a bit obnoxious for pointing that out but it's one thing that really annoys me for some reason.

Paul boxed quite well on Friday, although he started very slow imo and early on I wasn't impressed at all. But like usual he grew into it and the quality improved throughout for what was in the end quite a classy win.

I like the others would favour Khan to beat McCloskey but I don't as strong about it as they do. While I feel there's no way he'd decision Khan I think it's definitely possible Khan could walk into one of his unorthodox shots and I definitely feel he has the power to take Khan out.

Paul also has a style Khan has not encountered before and although he normally is very accurate who knows how he'd deal with that slippery style.
Kotelnik is very hard to hit, but that's because he keeps such a tight high guard, but the way the Ukrainian fights leaves little room for landing good counters. McCloskey on the otherhand is the type of fighter who relies on reflexes and while he could get caught with his chin hanging out and Khan could stop him, on the other hand if Khan is missing he'll be there to counter and counter hard.

Also take into mind Khan with his new style of constantly moving expends huge amounts of energym he was very very tired on the 11th and 12th round of the Kotelnik fight and if McCloskey was still there with his at the stage in that situation Khan could be in big trouble.

I'd pick Khan to win wide on points, but McCloskey would be a dangerous fight for the Bolton man, much more so than Kotelnik or Salita.

The reason McCloskey hasn't gotten much coverage for the win is:
*it was on Sky not RTÉ
*Martin Rogan fought the same night in a 'bigger fight'
*David Haye has stole most of the recent boxing coverage
*He went from fighting a former World title holder and good challenge in M'Baye to someone who wasn't a test at all and the fight became a forgone conclusion. It was an anti-climax if ever there was one.

Now I'd like to see McCloskey defend his European title against any two of M'Baye, Kotelnik, Alosegun, Daws, Witter(although he's going to 147), Rees(if he wins prizefighter), Barnes(if he wins prizefighter) and then go on to fight the weakest Light-Welterweight title holder Devon Alexander. Alexander's not really up to much but is thought highly of by Americans for no real reason, beating him would earn McCloskey huge respect.

However I expect instead to see our old from Giuseppe Lauri come over for a McCloskey EBU defence and then M'Baye before Paul finally gets a shot at Khan, if Khan manages to hold onto his title in the mean time.

walshb

McCloskey's power is IMO exaggerated and not enough to dent even Khan, who is after all, maturing and getting stronger. The extra weight (10 stone now), may aid Khan, at least against a hitter like Paul, who is more a pot shotter. I could see Paul's style posing difficulty for Khan early, but I cannot see Paul ever being an offensive threat. He doesn't throw enough telling shots and likes the opponent to come to him. Once Amir finds his feet after a few rds, and realises that Paul is slower, doesn't belt too hard and isn't near as fast, Khan may opt to really go on the offense. I'd love to see them fight

walshb

BTW, does anyone else feel that Paul could maybe be a LW?

He has the most unimpressive boxing physique I have seen in quite a while, excl some of those burger king heavyweights. He looks like he could shed a few lbs there. I don't know, does he make the LWW limit with ease, and is the LW limit a weight too low for him?

f1dan

walshb wrote: »

BTW, does anyone else feel that Paul could maybe be a LW?

He has the most unimpressive boxing physique I have seen in quite a while, excl some of those burger king heavyweights. He looks like he could shed a few lbs there. I don't know, does he make the LWW limit with ease, and is the LW limit a weight too low for him?

I doubt it. He seems a bit like Juan Diaz or Enzo Maccarinelli. It's just in their nature not to be ripped.

joepenguin

walshb wrote: »

Also, I don't think he has the punch to do it either

Willie Limmond had the power to stop Kahn so id say McCloskey has it too and then some. Not that i think he's a big puncher or be able to beat Kahn clearly. I give him an unorthodox punchers chance but if he was to have a crack at Kahn the sooner the better as far as risk / reward goes. Ok maybe he could do with one more fight before hand with soemeone who poses a threat but its a fight id like to see.

walshb

joepenguin wrote: »

Willie Limmond had the power to stop Kahn so id say McCloskey has it too and then some. Not that i think he's a big puncher or be able to beat Kahn clearly. I give him an unorthodox punchers chance but if he was to have a crack at Kahn the sooner the better as far as risk / reward goes. Ok maybe he could do with one more fight before hand with soemeone who poses a threat but its a fight id like to see.

I had a feeling someone would mention Limond, and fair point. But, that was a couple of years ago, when Khan was maybe 20? He is 22 now, almost 23 and has matured a lot, and he's in a higher weight, which I think will suit him.

I don't see Paul doing the trick with a single shot, and he has yet to show me that he's a good and solid finisher who can really rattle off bunches of fast and hard shots.

BDF

McCloskey is highly rated across the pond, probably due to his fights being on Sky. He is very understated which may not capture the imagination of the casual Irish fan the way Dunne or Lee have.
McCloskey V Khan is 50-50 in my opinion. Khan has never faced anyone as unorthodox as Paul and I'm not sure he would know what to do with him. McCloskey has the power and accuracy to trouble Khan, no doubt about it. I'm not sure Khan has the power to trouble McCloskey though, especially if he keeps fighting the way he did in the Kotelnik fight where he was getting nothing on his shots.

Jason Mc

I'm a casual observer of boxing but I am dismayed at how little credit Paul gets.

His record is impecible.

I look at Dunne and I wonder why he gets or got so much more exposure than Paul. Even before he made it.

Paul is a genuinely nice guy and fun to watch. I wish him all the best in the future.

cowzerp

Jason Mc wrote: »

I'm a casual observer of boxing but I am dismayed at how little credit Paul gets.

His record is impecible.

I look at Dunne and I wonder why he gets or got so much more exposure than Paul. Even before he made it.

Paul is a genuinely nice guy and fun to watch. I wish him all the best in the future.

Dunne was unbeaten in ireland as an amateur and unreal, thats why he was so well known before going pro..

Paul is good but not in Dunnes league.

walshb

cowzerp wrote: »

Dunne was unbeaten in ireland as an amateur and unreal, thats why he was so well known before going pro..

Paul is good but not in Dunnes league.

Paul, to the causal observer Dunne wouldn't have been known back as an amateur. Only the Olympians really get that exposure to the broader public.

Egan for example is far better known than Dunne ever was when Dunne was
an amateur. Ask any joe on the street who Kenny was in say 2006 or 2007 and they would not have known, but in 2008, everyone knew who he was. Kenny is a legend as regards Irish amateurs. To me and you and others who followed the AMATEUR sport, yes, Dunne was known, but no more known than other Senior champs from that era, or before that era.

Egan was the same with Francie Barret. He was known by everyone in Ireland as an amateur because of the 96 games and the flag carrying. I cannot honestly say that
from 1998-2000, the average joe would NOT have known who Dunne was.

Had he made the games in Sydney and done well, that would have changed.
Ireland had a representative in Sydney. Light Middle, Michael Roche.

Lee was more known as an amateur in 2004 than Bernard was in 1998-2000. And again, due to Lee's exposure from the Athens games

walshb

Just in case the Dunne lovers are up in arms with my post;;) I would also say that many many other great amateur stars from the 90s were also not known by the casual observer due to the lack of action at the Olympic games. Neil Gough, Stephen Kirk, Jamie Moore, Eamon MaGee, Glen Stephens, Dennis Galvin etc. All fantastic amateurs who never made it to the Games

alanceltic

I think McCloskeys style doesnt do him any favours in terms of his broad appeal, he is very frustrating to watch and rarely are any of his contests exciting. I think he really needs a fight like the khan fight to propel him into the spotlight, theres no doubt he could capitalise on what clearly is a dubious chin which khan has. I dont rate his power that much but it doesnt take a lot to rock khan so he definately has a chance. Again its a pity mccloskey doesnt get much coverage, there wasnt even anything in mondays papers on it.... he just isnt a ticket seller.

Big Ears

alanceltic wrote: »

I think McCloskeys style doesnt do him any favours in terms of his broad appeal, he is very frustrating to watch and rarely are any of his contests exciting. I think he really needs a fight like the khan fight to propel him into the spotlight, theres no doubt he could capitalise on what clearly is a dubious chin which khan has. I dont rate his power that much but it doesnt take a lot to rock khan so he definately has a chance. Again its a pity mccloskey doesnt get much coverage, there wasnt even anything in mondays papers on it.... he just isnt a ticket seller.

He managed to get a decent crowd to watch him in Magherafelt(2,500 I think).
He's not that well known by the Irish public, but a large part of that is because his fights which have really mattered have been on Sky. He was starting to build a profile in this country with the Garnica and Bazan fights on RTÉ.
Had the Lynes, Harrison and Rasilla fights been on RTÉ McCloskey would be big news in this country.

While his style can be frustrating, I still thinks he's enjoyable to watch.
Personally the sooner his links to Matchroom are cut the better.
Peters needs to sign him up(as promoter rather than Manager) and get him defending that European title on RTÉ, I think the Irish public could definitely warm towards an intelligent(inside and outside the ring), classy, slick boxer who's achieving things at a high level.

makl

fully agree Big Ears. think he's great to watch myself. a mate was in school with him and said he was no different on the corridors between classes than in the ring, he brings the same attitude and personality into the ring.

maybe a poll for ireland's most underrated boxer is due?

joepenguin

Yeah he's the european champion and regardless of that he has had a brilliant career so far. and selling 2,500 tickets on the same night as rogan sexton and mike tyson is pretty good.

Dunne has a more fan friendly style though and to the casual fan looks more like he's the business. But results dont lie and paul can now come to rte as the british and european champ. well the british belt is probably gone now but still.

foams

I think Pauls brillant to watch, he's a real boxing stylist, even if you didnt follow boxing you would love his style, he's somthing differant.

Jason Mc

Yeah to me Paul has a style you would never try and teach someone to use

But his reflexes are so sharp and the angles he throws his punches from are so unorthodox that I find him fascinating to watch

I know him vaguely and have seen how much effort he puts into his training regime and it frustrates me to see him not get the credit or deals that would help him to train in a full time manner

It's part of what is wrong with sport in Ireland and the UK, you either need to have rich parents who can invest in you or to have already made it before anyone takes notice.

bamboozler

I like mccloskey style and the fact its awkward and frustrating at times i thinks makes it more exciting. Dunne had a crackin fight against cordoba but he wasnt exactly the most exciting fighter in his few fights before, McCloskey mightn't have the class, power or even defense to go all the way to world level but certainly has the skill to entertain at european level

kevinhug

I seen Mcloskey fight in the stadium a couple of times and found extremely hard to watch, kinda how I find Jim Rock. BUT I watched him the other and was impressed, fair play to him.

However the reason I think he doesn't get the credit, is simply because i dont see the boxing ability to reach world level. Dunne, Duddy and Lee, had that (although duddy never done anything for me). When I watched Dunne and Lee I knew they were going somewhere. Although Duddy and Lee have somewhat went off the boil. Dunne achieve what he said he would, you cant help but love Dunne, he does it for Ireland and his family and you watch him, love him or hate him.

Also Dunne Lee and Duddy had the american thing, coming back to Ireland was always played up. Is that what is the difference?

By the way i dont mean to be so negative on McCloskey, i am well chuffed for him and want him to go far!