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Destructive debut – The ‘Irish Drago’ Paul McCullagh secures stoppage win

Paul McCullagh lived up to the ‘Drago’ name in Yorkshire tonight.

Just like the Rocky baddie the Belfast fighter showed no mercy, a real propensity to do damage and an ability to land big of either hand.

The ‘Irish Drago’ hurt Ben Thomas in every round before putting him out of his misery in the third.

It’s the ideal start for the big punching Jonathan O’Brien trained fighter, he got some rounds under his belt and still managed to catch the eye with a stoppage win at the Wakefield Productions Studios.

Bolton native Thomas came out looking to unsettle the debut fighter, throwing from the off, but McCullagh remained calm and wasn’t long about getting on top.

He worked the body well and looked to be hurting the BBBofC Central Area title challenger with everything he landed.

A more controlled ‘Irish Drago’ took to the ring in the second. The jab he talked about in the build up was more apparent and the big man showed a variety of work.

The final minute saw the big shots come out and Thomas did well to take to two left hooks before the Belfast big man, who came in just over the light heavyweight limit, forced him to do an involuntary dance with a long right hand.

At that point a stoppage win looked likely and the recent Ulster Elite light heavyweight champion wasn’t going to let an early night slip through his grasp.

The 6’4 power puncher got the job done in the third securing what could prove to the be the first of many career knockouts.

McCullagh, who is managed by Dave Coldwell and works with MTK, was meant to debut earlier this year, but the pandemic prompted a delay. Fans will argue it was worth the wait, the Lanzarote based fighter certainly looks like he will be fun to follow.

Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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