McCloskey faces substitute Rasilla For European crown

Paul McCloskey gets his belated crack at the European light-welterweight title on Friday November 6th with Spanish import Daniel Rasilla standing in the opposite corner after Frenchman Souleymane M’baye withdrew last week. Trainer John Breen and promoter Brian Peters both insist that a late change of opponent will not faze the former British title holder, and I’m inclined to agree.

Not only does Rasilla fail to possess the same pedigree as M’baye but he has already failed on these shores, in an EU title bid down at lightweight.

 

Fellow John Breen charge Andrew Murray easily outpointed the 29-year-old Santander man who calls himself ‘The Cobra’ and despite the strangely tight scoring I thought Murray won almost every session. Rasilla, who comes from a kickboxing background, has been a professional for three years and amassed a 15-2 (4 KO’s) record in that time, with the only other loss coming via a second round knockout in 2008. Since losing to Murray he has won three straight, including a ten-rounder for the domestic title at his new weight. He is strong, fit and eager to have a go, but does not possess the technical attributes to worry the accomplished McCloskey (pictured in training below) – not an ideal name on paper but a solid replacement at such short notice.

 

BoxRec News gauged Murray’s opinions, for some inside track on the import: “He has a tall frame and lean body with an awkward style,” said the Cavan man. “He was very defensive when I fought him and I had to get in close and work to get him to open up. He was happy to circle, jab and pass the rounds by with a long reach. I don’t see any way he beats McCloskey, who will break him down to the body and stop him in a few rounds – training and sparring with Paul is always a good workout and he throws a great straight left to the body.

 

“As for my own career I’ve started back light training after breaking my collarbone in sparring. I thought I had a sore spot and then I felt a crack and it went. Hopefully in the new year I can get back into action.”

 

McCloskey, meanwhile, enjoyed an excellent 2008, which saw him defeat Manuel Garnica and Cesar Bazan, before a close points win over Nigel Wright and a late-notice beating of Colin Lynes that saw the Hornchurch man quit after nine rounds. That earned the 30-year-old a British title and the Irish Boxing Supporters’ Club named him fighter of the year. A fourth round hammering of Dean Harrison the following March cemented his position as domestic number one.

 

Boxing on away turf is unlikely to faze Rasilla greatly, although the Meadowbank Arena will offer a more intense atmosphere than the ghostly acoustics of a quarter-full O2 arena where he fought Murray, tucked away on the Dunne-Cordoba undercard in March. That was the only time the Spaniard has left home as a boxer, yet he will have travelling experience from his kickboxing days. An orthodox fighter, to McCloskey’s unpredictable southpaw stance, Rasilla will find himself feinted and bamboozled onto punches from angles he won’t see coming. Such is the confidence of the Dungiven man at the moment I can see Daniel taking too many late on and the referee may have to intervene to save the game co-challenger (the title is now vacant after M’baye’s withdrawal) from further punishment. Either way, I don’t see Rasilla out-boxing or stopping McCloskey so this is a definite home banker – by late stoppage, or the safe bet on points.

 

On the undercard, British featherweight champion Martin Lindsay and super-bantamweight hope Carl Frampton both feature, whereas a proposed English scrap between Steve Williams and Michael Grant has been removed from the list. Talented Pole Grzegorz Proksa and Coventry’s Troy James have been added late-on. Omagh’s well supported Damian Taggart has slimmed down in weight and returns over four rounds, while big hitting heavyweight amateur David Hanna makes his pro debut. Liverpool’s John Donnelly and cruiserweight David Dolan are scheduled over separate 6x3’s.