Paul McCloskey V Ajose Olusegun - Who wins

[boxingwriter]

I know a lot about McCloskey having seen most of his fights but am not that familiar with Olusegun.
I know there is already a thread on this but I am more interested in how you guys think the fight will go?

How will their styles mesh and more impotantly, who wins?
Does Olusegun have a big enough fanbase for venue to really matter in this fight? Although it would be great for McCloskey to get the fight in Belfast, I actually think he performs well on away ground (eg.against Lynes and Harrison).

[TFFP]

It would be a messy ugly fight with no real flow to it. I am absolutely sure of that. Both are awkward southpaws. I'd expect Olusegun would be the one to come forward and lead off, McCloskey countering. I see a lot of awkward clashes, tieing up, head clashes.

In the end McCloskey would win a decision. He's the more accurate puncher with greater variety to me. He can punch straight down the pipe, whereas Olusegun's are wide hooks.

[boxingwriter]

It would be a messy ugly fight with no real flow to it. I am absolutely sure of that. Both are awkward southpaws. I'd expect Olusegun would be the one to come forward and lead off, McCloskey countering. I see a lot of awkward clashes, tieing up, head clashes.

In the end McCloskey would win a decision. He's the more accurate puncher with greater variety to me. He can punch straight down the pipe, whereas Olusegun's are wide hooks.





I see Olusegun stopped Scott Haywood and Ali Nuumbembe, both of whom had not been stopped before.
Was this just a step to far for them or is Olusegun a hard hitter, or both.
I fear for McCloskey against a big puncher as he drops his hands so low.

[antcull]

Agree with TFFP about it being an ugly fight, I think it would be very difficult to score.

Both have a comment opponent in the very capable Nigel Wright and both seem to have had a bit of trouble with him (didn't see Olusegun-Wright, scores were all 116-113 though)

50-50 fight for me

[danners2003]

ajose sat infront of me when I went to see danny williams john mcdermott. he fought on the bill too.

[Olu G. Rotimi]

McCloskey is one of the better British lads however any sincere and honest appraisal will point to on on dominating stoppage win for Ajose Olusegun over McCloskey.The contest will show the difference between domestic and international world class.McCloskey was very impressive againt Lynes and in his last fight. Ajose stops the better fighters he faces.Don't really care were the fight is held Belfast,London, Lagos or Abuja the result will be the same Ajose by knockout taking McCloskey's unbeaten record.

[mbrockett]

however any sincere and honest appraisal will point to on on dominating stoppage win for Ajose Olusegun over McCloskey.

haha, your appraisal being 100% objective of course :deal

[D-MAC]

haha, your appraisal being 100% objective of course :deal

Indeed.

I loved the International World Class bit.

[Olu G. Rotimi]

haha, your appraisal being 100% objective of course :deal

What do you call an unbeaten fighter who has won international titles such as the African Boxing Union, British Empire Commonwealth and WBF Intercontinental title and ranked number 5 by the WBC and knocked out the Commonwealth champions at Light Middleweight and Welterweight in higher weight divisions.

[kosaros]

What do you call an unbeaten fighter who has won international titles such as the African Boxing Union, British Empire Commonwealth and WBF Intercontinental title and ranked number 5 by the WBC and knocked out the Commonwealth champions at Light Middleweight and Welterweight in higher weight divisions.

Lets not forget his fantastic 2008, where he beat the likes of Mutu, Frontin and Spitko in 6 round fights...when Olusegun has had 20+ fights as a professional...

[Beeston Brawler]

I thought Olu was ranked at #7?

[riggers]

What do you call an unbeaten fighter who has won international titles such as the African Boxing Union, British Empire Commonwealth and WBF Intercontinental title and ranked number 5 by the WBC and knocked out the Commonwealth champions at Light Middleweight and Welterweight in higher weight divisions.

What do you call a fighter whose best wins were 4 years ago ?

[riggers]

I think Ajose will win this fight , if he can find the Nuumbeembe form. Probably by stoppage too in the mid rounds. The result will not benefit his ranking, or his quest for a title shot.

[BigEars]

I thought Olu was ranked at #7?

Correct he is #7 having dropped all the way from #3 over the past year or two, presumely for failure to fight any other ranked fighters.

I assume it would be very difficult for Ajose to get the WBC eliminator he has been looking for now, but fortunately for him McCloskey is top 25(#22 I think) with the WBC so a win here may save him.

[iceman]

McCloskey will win the fight if it goes the distance

[boxingwriter]

Correct he is #7 having dropped all the way from #3 over the past year or two, presumely for failure to fight any other ranked fighters.

I assume it would be very difficult for Ajose to get the WBC eliminator he has been looking for now, but fortunately for him McCloskey is top 25(#22 I think) with the WBC so a win here may save him.

Bigears, how do you see this one going?

[BigEars]

Bigears, how do you see this one going?

Not a damn clue, both are open and there to be hit for a fighter with fast hands(which they both have), the styles aren't going to mesh well(TFFP mentioned earlier) and it's just very hard to pick a fight between two fighters so unorthodox.

I think if I had more faith in McCloskey's chin(which since the 2nd round against Lynes has worried me) I'd pick him, but I just feel he could get caught with a stupid shot in this one and that might be it. On the otherhand if it goes to the cards I feel McCloskey could be more consistant in his work throughout and get the decision but Olusegun will be hit in this fights with shots he normally doesn't get hit with, it'll be interesting to see how he takes them.

Like Appleby v Lindsay it's a pick em.

[boxingwriter]

Not a damn clue, both are open and there to be hit for a fighter with fast hands(which they both have), the styles aren't going to mesh well(TFFP mentioned earlier) and it's just very hard to pick a fight between two fighters so unorthodox.

I think if I had more faith in McCloskey's chin(which since the 2nd round against Lynes has worried me) I'd pick him, but I just feel he could get caught with a stupid shot in this one and that might be it. On the otherhand if it goes to the cards I feel McCloskey could be more consistant in his work throughout and get the decision but Olusegun will be hit in this fights with shots he normally doesn't get hit with, it'll be interesting to see how he takes them.

Like Appleby v Lindsay it's a pick em.

Cheers, good analysis

[Olu G. Rotimi]

Has this fight been confirmed - if so what date / venue ???

Going to purse bids. Ajose will stop McCloskey though McCloskey is a good fighter either at or approaching his peak.

[marty]

Thanks - I thought that Mccloskey camp were targetting a Euro title fight next.. this seems like a risky fight...

One of the posters on the Irish boxing thread on the main forum says that the purse bids have to be in by the 4th April. This is a dangerous fight for McCloskey, but home advantage might just give Paul the edge.:deal

[Kid Lucky]

Think Alusogen is still very fresh having been matched, ahem, carefully of late and stops McCloskey in a suprisingly interesting fight.

A risky fight for both men but Ajose needs to start having meaningful contests and it gives McCloskey the chance to take several steps forward in his career against a highly ranked and beatable opponent.

[Olu G. Rotimi]

One of the posters on the Irish boxing thread on the main forum says that the purse bids have to be in by the 4th April. This is a dangerous fight for McCloskey, but home advantage might just give Paul the edge.:deal

It is always extra special to beat an undefeated fighter and champion in his hometown. Do you think McCloskey would be open to have the contest in Nigeria?

[TFFP]

I doubt it.

Paul is British champion, he beat a former European champion only two fights ago. I think he'd pull in a decent crowd over in Ireland so that wouldn't make much sense.

[pathmanc1986]

much sense?


try no sense whatsoever TFFP, fight in Nigeria, seems Olesegun's manager takes this forum too serious

Paul can fill out the Kings hall with a decent Irish support fight, sell about 5000 tickets, make everyone a lot on money, be on sky tv so not much need to go to Lagos i think...............................


His manager seems set on needing to convince us that Olesegun is going to win by destroying mccloskey while Paul will be quiet and respectful as usual which is just the way I like it

[Olu G. Rotimi]

The reason I ask is because this will be a contest for both the Commonwealth and British title. No one is slagging McCloskey off as he is worthy of respect. He earned my respect for doing what he did to Lynes. We can do 50,000 in Nigeria like when Dele Jonathan beat Jim Watt for the British Empire Commonwealth title in the mid 70's.

[Lionel Rose]

Ajose by late stoppage.
And let's face it, at this point in his career, he might as well quit the sport if he loses this one....

[pathmanc1986]

quit the sport if he loses to a young fresh undefeated up and coming fighter whom just defeated the not so distant european champion in a fight for th british, commonwealth and most likey an eliminator to have an eliminator at world level

why would he quit?


either fighter has options if they lose

[Healy]

McCloskey on points

He seems to have worked on the power though in the lay off

[BigEars]

Do you think McCloskey would be open to have the contest in Nigeria?

I'm sure Paul and his team would have no objections if you got £80,000 or more lying around.

Olusegun hasn't fought at home against any UK based opponents so far, why start now ?. Afterall McCloskey can generate more income than any of the fighters Olusegun has previously faced in Commonwealth title fights, so to start looking to hold a fight that is much bigger than those were in Nigeria now is a bit ambitious. Especially as mentioned McCloskey would sell out the 5,000 King's Hall.

Sky Sports wouldn't be too happy to trek to Nigeria either so the tv money would be gone there, and the BBBofC mightn't sanction a British title bout outside of the UK. The only time they've done that in the past was for a fight in Ireland(Brian Magee v Tony Oakey) and when McCloskey's team tried to get his fight with Nigel Wright made an eliminator(a fight that happened after Magee v Oakey) the British board refused on the grounds of it not being in the UK.