Paul McCloskey will finally get his chance at a European title on July 3rd but the undefeated Derry man will have to concede home advantage by travelling to France to battle it out with former World Champion Souleymane M'baye for the vacant European Light Welterweight title.

McCloskey was made an offer that manager and trainer John Breen admitted was simply too good to refuse to travel to Paris to take on M’baye. “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 lions den,” said Breen.

Newly crowned WBA World Super Bantamweight Champion Bernard Dunne has been named the boxer of the month for March by the World Boxing Association. The Dubliner was awarded the accolade after his sensational title winning performance against Ricardo Cordoba at The O2 in Dublin last month.

Their six knockdown back and forth battle is already being put forward as a candidate for fight of the year on both sides of the Atlantic with Dunne who was a heavy betting underdog, emerging victorious with an eleventh round stoppage of the defending champion.