McCloskey defeats Prescott in eliminator on points
Last updated on .From the section Boxing
Paul McCloskey produced a strong comeback to beat Breidis Prescott on a unanimous points decision in the WBA light-welterweight title eliminator.
Prescott dominated the early rounds in Belfast but Dungiven fighter McCloskey seized control as the Colombian tired.
Two judges scored the fight 114-113 with the other going for 115-113.
Carl Frampton impressed on the undercard as he won the Commonwealth super-bantamweight title with a fourth-round stoppage of Australian Mark Quon.
Belfast fighter Frampton always looked in control and he knocked Quon to the canvas in the fourth before the contest was stopped seconds later.
"It went perfect for me and I want to be involved in big fights," said Frampton, who now wants to take on Kiko Martinez for the European title.
Prescott, who knocked out Amir Khan inside one minute in 2008, had McCloskey taking a count in the first round for a knockdown although it appeared to be a push.
McCloskey shuddered after taking a strong right in the sixth round but by now Prescott was beginning to tire.
The Northern Ireland man capitalised and was firmly on top in the latter rounds.
"I'm happy with the way I won that fight," said McCloskey, who suffered a points defeat on cuts by Khan in a world title challenge in April.
"I started off terrible - he was outjabbing me in the first couple of rounds and I just had to find a way around it.
"Early on he hit hard but from the fourth or fifth round the power seemed to dip and I felt that.
"I'm a skilful fighter but I've got a big heart and I dug deep against world class opposition."
