Injury agony for McCloskey

30 June 2009 – By Mark Doyle

Paul McCloskey has been forced to pull out of his European light-welterweight title showdown with Souleymane M’Baye on Friday night.

The pair had been set to meet for the vacant strap in France but McCloskey has withdrawn because of a hand injury.

“I am totally gutted. I hurt it last week and I was keeping quiet about it to see how it would respond to treatment. In the end, it was just too big a gamble to take in such an important fight, the undefeated Dungiven native told the Londonderry Sentinel Sport.

“I talked it over with my trainer and the rest of the team and we decided there was just too much at stake. It’s a real kick in the teeth for me but there is no doubt in my mind that I will get back into it.”

M’Baye will now meet Colin Lynes for the European title, with McCloskey set to face the victor later in the year, most probably in September.