‘In tip-top shape and raring to go’

The pair will be competing at the King’s Hall in Belfast on Saturday night (May 4), as ‘Dudey’ takes on DeMarcus Corley in the bill-topping bout and ‘King Kane’ takes on all comers in the innovative ‘Prizefighter’ tournament.

McCloskey is already among the biggest names in Irish boxing, and understandably tops the bill as he fights to get back into contention for a world-title shot.

His opponent, DeMarcus ‘Chop-Chop’ Corley is no slouch though, having gone the distance with such luminaries of the sweet science as Floyd Mayweather Junior, widely regarded as one of the finest exponents in boxing history.

A special public training session will take place today at Stormont as part of the build up to the big fight, with Eamon O’Kane learning his fate in the draw for the Prizefighter tournament.

An outdoor ring will be erected outside Stormont, weather permitting, allowing the public to take a look at Dudey and Chop Chop ahead of Saturday’s clash.

Manager of O’Kane and McCloskey, Francie McNicholl said both Dungiven boxers are “in tip-top shape and raring to go” going into their respective fights.

Speaking of ‘King Kane’ he said: “Well he’s completely confident, as we all are. A lot depends on the draw, it is the nature of the thing. If he comes up against one of the real challengers early on, it can take a lot out of you. But he fears no-one. He definitely fancies his chances.”

Dudey has gone through a slightly changed training regime in recent weeks, owing to the birth of his son Gara. He has stayed at home with his wife and children rather than remaining at his Belfast training camp. His manager Francie McNicholl believes his slightly disrupted training routine has both pros and cons, with the settled family environment helping his mentality going into the fight.

McNicholl added: “All the preparation he has put in has went well. Everything has went according to plan, and there are no complaints whatsoever. He is in tip-top shape and raring to go, as is Eamon.”

Speaking at a recent press conference, ‘Dudey’ revealed he has his sights firmly set on a world-title, despite the “politics” involved. He said: “I have done the British and European thing and now there is only one move. We have a shot at a World title and we won the Breidis Prescott fight, which was an eliminator.

“But there are politics involved. Khan is fighting Lamont Peterson again. Danny Garcia is the new champion with the WBC, Marcos Maidana is still in the picture as he is the WBA Champion, so hopefully something can be sorted out soon.”

He added: “I am going in there to do a job and then move on to better things. And if I don’t go in there and perform it will not happen. There has been loads of talk in the last week about Juan Manuel Marquez and they have made positive contact and everything has been very positive.

“And the fact that Marquez’s promoter has mentioned me to fight him must mean I am doing something right. So I have to stay focused, work hard and keep moving on.”

The King’s Hall will surely be bouncing during the first ever All-Irish Prizefighter, with local middleweight Eamon O’Kane installed as the early favourite in the notoriously hard to call tournament. One of the biggest threats to O’Kane’s Prizefighter challenge Jamie Conlon has now pulled out, surely increasing the chances of the Roe Valley middleweight bringing home the trophy and the substantial prize money.

Paul McCloskey knows all about the atmosphere at the historic King’s Hall venue: “The King’s Hall has the history behind it and I have three or four great nights there already and I want to make this another big one. When the crowd is in the King’s Hall the atmosphere is special and I think that has to do with the history of the boxing that has been there in the past.”

Tickets for the bumper night of Irish boxing were still available at the Eurospar in Dungiven at the time of going to press.