Paul McCloskey collected the British light welterweight title in December

Paul McCloskey will take on former world champion Souleymane M'baye for the vacant European light-welterweight title in France on 3 July.

The Dungiven man is happy to travel to M'baye's hometown of Levallois-Perret in the Paris suburbs for the fight.

"Paris is a beautiful city and I hope it will be a beautiful night with me lifting the European title," he said.

"When the first bell goes it'll be just me, him and the referee in that ring so the crowd won't have any affect on me."

McCloskey is unbeaten in 19 fights and retained his British light-welterweight title with victory over Dean Harrison in Widnes in March.

His trainer John Breen is equally confident of victory, despite conceding home advantage.

"They made us a very, very good offer to go to France but Paul's one of those guys who has no problems going into the lion's den," said Breen.

"They could fight in M'baye's front room as far as I'm concerned and Paul would still beat him.

"I've said all along he's a world champion in the making and he'll prove that again by winning a European title on the road."

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