By Wayne Bartlett: Unbeaten British champion Paul McCloskey added the European light welterweight title to his tally tonight, after bewildering and bashing up late sub Daniel Rasilla en route to a ninth round stoppage.
Having been forced to face the come forward, rigid, Spanish late replacement Rasilla rather than classy Frenchman Souleymane M’Baye for the vacant European strap. McCloskey set about the change in adversary with ease and conviction at the Meadowbank Sports Arena in Northern Ireland. Switch hitting, battering throughout and flooring the visitor twice in a round nine which he was pronounced winner after the referee’s stoppage with Rasilla on the seat of his trunks.
Coming to prominence when himself stepping in as a late replacement to upset Colin Lynes for the British title with a ninth round retirement win last year. McCloskey has since retained the title with a four round stoppage of Dean Harrison and followed it up with tonight’s dominant performance over Rasilla.
A savvy, right hand low, reflex based southpaw. The Northern Irishman’s flashy ’Prince Naseem Hamedesqe’ punches from all angles made the now 15-3(4) challenger appear out of his depth tonight, despite his continual best efforts and commendable grit.
Banking the previous eight rounds with a confident, unforgiving pot shotting display. Round nine saw the visitors resolve finally unravel in the face of his tormentor when a whipping right hook counter forced Rasilla to cover up and ultimately seek temporary salvation on the canvas.
Bravely getting to his feet and even forcing himself upon the home fighter, you could see the big gulps of air being taken from the fading Rasilla in between the shots coming his way, and a finishing left cross counter from McCloskey sending the Spaniard crumbling to the deck was more than enough for referee Erkki Meronen to stop the fight at 2m 15s of the round.
Now British and European champion combined with registering a perfect 20-0(10) record, the light welterweight world rankings should begin to pay attention to the 30 year old Londonderry born fighter, and it will be interesting to see how McCloskey’s style will stand up to the potential challenge of world rated opposition.
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