McCloskey to make European title defence against Italian

Paul McCloskey will make the first defence of his European light-welterweight title against serial Euro challenger Guiseppe Lauri on 7 May in Belfast. The unbeaten Irishman, 20-0 (10), captured the vacant EBU crown with a ninth round stoppage of Spaniard Daniel Rasilla in November.

55-fight veteran Lauri has suffered four of his six defeats in Britain against Ricky Hatton (TKO5), Junior Witter (TKO2) and a brace of points losses against Ted Bami in the Italian's two previous attempts to lift the European title.

The 33-year-old Lauri has won his last seven however and currently resides as the EU light-welterweight champion (sister title to the EBU crown).