Limerick limelight for Lee and McCloskey by Steve Wellings Jul 18th 2008

Irish prospects Andy Lee and Paul McCloskey share the limelight this weekend (Saturday 19th July) when they both face off against good quality tests in the University Arena, Limerick. Local favourite Lee was being groomed by famed American trainer Emanuel Steward for a world title shot later this year but a shocking KO loss in his last fight has placed the matter firmly on hold. Lee was stunned by Contender star Brian Vera in the seventh round of their contest in Connecticut. He aims to return to winning ways when he meets danger man Willie Gibbs on the joint top of the bill. Gibbs was due to meet Matthew Macklin in last weeks' Dublin show, but Macklin re-signed with Frank Warren and Gibbs was handed the Lee job instead. Gibbs sports an impressive 20-3 record and the fact that 16 of his wins have come via the short route, indicates he is a man that packs a punch. “The Gladiator” has boxed over 100 rounds as a pro and holds wins over Marcos Primera and Lenord Pierre, although he has lost his last two bouts. Erratic Colombian Edison Miranda sparked Willie in a round in 2006 and Raymond Joval beat him on points in 2007 in his only contest that year, which shows inactivity. In fact, Gibbs has not fought in over a year and will come into the ring extremely rusty but hardened through intense sparring and preparation at his camp in Philadelphia. Gibbs was supremely confident when he got the change of opponent. “I don't know what his team are thinking of with this fight. Do they honestly believe I'm going to come all the way to Ireland to lie down for him? I saw Lee's last fight and he's a good young fighter who's shooting for his dream like the rest of us but he ain't ready for me. The fact that they even think they can take me shows they're underestimating me. That's a slap in the face for me and it's all the motivation I need.” Lee has headlined in this arena before, stopping Argentine Gustavo Falliga in five rounds in February this year. “It's great that my first fight back after the defeat is in Limerick. The support last time was amazing. It was an experience to remember so hopefully July 19th will be the same,” he said in a previous press release. The tall southpaw has a good jab and likes to hook off the right lead and he also packs a punch with the straight left. Veteran Carl Daniels felt the force of a Lee right hook in 2007 at Madison Square Garden and 12 of Andy's 15 victims have failed to hear the final bell. The Vera bout was stopped early in some peoples eyes but he was in trouble and it seemed fair enough to me, as Lee (after a bright enough start) was hit, hurt and stopped. He will need to steer clear of the big Gibbs bombs and if he lands flush then the American may suddenly “go” at any point; he has been stopped twice out of three losses, in four rounds by Daniel Edouard and one round by Miranda. Andy can wear opponents down, like he did with Jason McKay for the Irish title in Dublin and the Vera loss may prove to be a blip. Either way I foresee the Limerick crowd roaring their man on to victory, with a game Gibbs caught with a series of big shots and stopped somewhere around the fifth round. If the KO does not arrive then look for Lee to outbox his man to a wide points win. At today's weigh-in both Lee and Gibbs weighed a half a pound over the 160lb mark Co-headlining this big show is Dungiven light-welterweight Paul McCloskey who meets English champion Nigel Wright over ten non-title rounds. Top prospect McCloskey also appeared on the previous Limerick bill when he posted a standout performance in beating Mexican Manuel Garnica over ten rounds. “I got a tremendous welcome from the fans in Limerick last time, it was almost like a home from home and I'm sure it will be just as good this time around. In fact I met a lot of people there last time that I hadn't met since my days in the amateur game. It was a real boxing crowd and they really love their sport there.” The classy southpaw beat faded Tontcho Tontchev in December 2007 for a lightly regarded belt but headlined in Letterkenny in March for the first time. The victim that night was grizzled veteran Cesar Bazan and McCloskey posted a virtual shutout with a classy display of moving in and out of range while pot-shotting his game foe. The 28 year-old is 16-0 (7 KO's) and arguably approaching his prime, training under John Breen and Eamonn Magee in Belfast. A shot at the British champion David Barnes or European king Gianluca Branco could be around the corner if he impresses against the 29 year-old Wright from Crook, County Durham. The current English champion will be chiselled into fine shape and comes with a reputation, having challenged for the British title (lost on points to Lenny Daws) and the Commonwealth strap in his last outing (lost on points to Ajose Olusegun). He beat Gary Reid for the English title in 2006 and looked unlucky to retain only on a draw with former conqueror Daws in his last but one contest. This will be an all southpaw affair so has the potential to get messy. Wright is sharp, has a reasonable dig and good boxing basics, while McCloskey is contrastingly unorthodox and will bounce in and out of range to pick the counters. It will be tight and close all the way but home advantage should see Paul through on points as Nigel disputes yet another decision not to have gone his way. A today's weigh-in McCloskey weighed in at 142lbs, a half pound above his opponent Wright. A further six bouts make up the solid support card and the pick of the action sees Lurgan talent Stephen Haughian take on Italian Giuseppe Langella over eight non-title rounds. Haughian's only defeat so far was against another Italian, Giammario Grassellini, so Stephen will look to erase his demons here. The opponent from Campania is 12-3-1 but his form is erratic and the smoother Haughian can outbox him over the distance. Banbridge middleweight Jason McKay and skilful John O'Donnell both get six round contests against eastern-European opposition. McKay meets Pole Marcel Piatkowski who has mixed with the likes of Vitali Tsypko and Jimmy Colas, though he usually loses against the better opposition. O'Donnell faces rookie Sergey Volodin at welterweight and both local favourites should win. Jamie Power gets Latvian toughman Sandris Tomson over a light-heavyweight 4x3's while a Canadian of Irish descent, Logan McGuinness, makes his pro debut against Juris Ivanovs at lightweight. Local hope Keith Cresham is awaiting an opponent at the time of writing. The Brian Peters “Hunky Dory's” fight night is shown on RTE across Ireland. Photos: Aidan Walsh

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