Debut for McCloskey’s cousin on Belfast card

Australian Welterweight Liam Hutchinson will make his pro debut on the packed McCloskey-Prescott Belfast card on the 10th September. Hutchinson, a cousin of McCloskey, has been enjoying the invaluable experience of training alongside ‘Dudey’ for the past four months in Breens Gym, Belfast.

“It’s amazing. It really showed me what it is like to train like a champion and there is a good feeling in the gym - when you turn up you know you have to work. I have always liked the pro game and couldn’t wait to turn pro.”

Hutchinson, whose favourite boxers include Andre Ward and Floyd Mayweather Jr, started boxing at the age of 12: “I only started it to get fit but after the first week I was hooked and just wanted to fight."

"I boxed out of Albert Boxing Club for a couple of years and then moved to 'The Boxing Shop' [both gyms in Queensland], where I won the Queensland and Australian Junior Welterweight titles.”

Hutchinson also alluded to similar traits with his fighting style to his older and more experienced cousin: “I like to counter box, but don’t mind standing and fighting at all”

‘The Homecoming’ Fight Card takes place at the Odyssey Arena, Belfast on 10th September and features Paul 'Dudey' McCloskey (22-1) v Breidis 'Khanqueror' Prescott (24-2) in an official World title eliminator, Carl Frampton (10-0) v Kiko Martinez (25-3) for the European super-bantamweight title, Eamonn O’Kane (2-0) v Joe Rea (7-5-1), Damian 'Dee' Taggart (5-1) v Mark 'The Situation' Ginley (2-0), Luke 'Winky' Wilton (9-2-1) v TBA, Mark McCullough (6-8) v TBA, Mike Perez (16-0) v TBA, Liam Hutchinson v TBA.

Tickets are available from any of the fighters or at www.odysseyarena.com/boxing.html or from www.ticketmaster.com