Paul McCloskey will fight against Frenchman M'baye in Magherafelt

Paul McCloskey and Martin Rogan will fight for titles just 35 miles apart on the same date - 6 November.

Dungiven man McCloskey takes on former world champion Souleymane M'baye for the vacant European light-welterweight title in Magherafelt.

On the same night Rogan clashes in a Commonwealth heavyweight rematch with Sam Sexton at Belfast's Odyssey Arena.

The news comes as a disappointment to many local fans who will now miss out on one of the fights.

"It would have been great if we were fighting on different nights but it's out of my hands," said McCloskey.

However, Rogan believes there are positives to be taken from staging the contests at the same time.

"It's like boxing in England - they have shows everywhere on Friday nights," he said.

"This is the shape of things to come, and it's for the better.

"More sport makes this place a better place and it gets kids involved in sport."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version