FOR a man who lost his biggest fight yet, Paul McCloskey has no problem telling other boxers where they come up short.
Fellow light-welters Amir Khan, Marcos Maidana and tonight’s opponent Breidis Prescott have all been dismissed.
But it’s one thing saying it, and another thing proving such talk.
Dudey takes on the Colombian ‘Khan-queror’ at the Odyssey claiming he will make the ‘crude’ visitor miss for fun.
The sharp-tongued southpaw may be right – but after his clash with Khan, it’s the toughest fight of his career to date.
Prescott’s one-minute victory over the Bolton man three years ago was unforgettable. OK, he has lost twice since, perhaps showing Manchester 2008 was a fluke.
But he is still a class above former Dudey opponents Guiseppe Lauri and Barry Morrison, and would give Colin Lynes – McCloskey’s hardest fight yet - a good go.
McCloskey is honest and answers questions when they are put to him.
It’s why he says he would make WBA regular champ Maidana ‘look foolish’ were they to meet, a real possibility later this year if Dudey wins tonight.
After his controversial defeat to Khan – a fight that should never have been stopped – he claimed he had made the Olympic silver medallist ‘look amateurish’.
And in the run-up to this one, Prescott has been told that he’ll be gone by the middle rounds, dazed and confused – and defeated.
It’s fighting talk and I reckon he backs it up with a points win in this WBA eliminator. But there should be a few hairy moments with it.
McCloskey swears he is concentrating on the job – despite still talking about other fighters.
He said: “I don’t care about Amir Khan. I just want to be a world champion. Even when I fought Khan it was about becoming world champion. I don’t care who I have to fight to achieve that.
“I’m one of the top fighters in the division and it’s nice to be in that position. It took a lot of hard work, time and dedication to get here.”
A chance to back up his words could come against Argie Maidana, another Khan victim. The difference is, he went all the way and missed out on a 10th round KO by the skin of his teeth.
The Dungiven southpaw and ‘El Chino’ made contact on Twitter and agreed in principle to meet.
But McCloskey says he hasn’t logged on in a while to see if they’re still on.
He added: “Maidana was in touch with us a while back. He respects me as a fighter and I respect him.
“I think he is a great fighter but he is average enough ability-wise. He does carry one hell of a dig just like this guy I am fighting tonight.
“I would love to get a world title fight with Maidana in Ireland. The fact he is even saying he would come here is a massive boost.”
In chief support Carl Frampton’s training camp – which sees him in the shape of his life – will not go to waste as he fights for the Commonwealth title.
His fight with Kiko Martinez was set to be a thriller, until the Spaniard pulled out as his dad is unwell.
Replacement Aussie Mark Quon stepped in where Willie Casey, Rendall Munroe and several others wouldn’t.
The drama nearly brought the Jackal to tears – but it might not be such a bad thing. After all, just 10 fights into his career there is no need to rush it.
He said: “I was disappointed after hearing about the Martinez fight and I remember it was just after sparring I heard and felt like crying to be honest.”
“I trained so hard. My manager Barry McGuigan said ‘Wo do you want next?’ and I said ‘Get me anyone in Europe for that European title’.”
It wasn’t to be but he should raise a new belt tonight to add to his Celtic title.
At middleweight Eamonn O’Kane should be too sweet for ‘Sugar’ Joe Rea, even if he gets his best test to date.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has brought the Sky Sports cameras and will hope for a more certain 1-2 from Ireland.
The last time two of our lads topped the bill on the channel, in Cardiff in June, Frampton looked unspectacular in beating the unheralded Robbie Turley.
And McCloskey gym-mate at John Breen’s, Andy Murray, froze in his European title fight against Gavin Rees.
Only two big performances tonight from the bill-toppers will entice the major players back.
They’re needed in Irish boxing now more than ever with RTE still steering clear of ringsports
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