Posted online: Aug 24th, 2010

By Johnny Craig

Sports Editor

Glengad welterweight Michael McLaughlin has been handed an exciting debut bout by top Irish promoter Brian Peters.

The 26 year-old Carn ABC member will fight in front of his home fans on the undercard of Paul McCloskey’s second European Title defense at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny October 2^nd.

The show, which will be televised live by RTE, is sure to attract a sell-out crowd to the 2000 capacity arena and speaking to the Inish Times at a press conference to announce the bill last Wednesday, McLaughlin admitted that he can’t wait to make his first appearance as a professional with Dublin’s Gavin Prunty his likely opponent.

“I’m delighted to be making my pro debut and especially in my home

county of Donegal,” he said. “I’ve had over 100 amateur fights and I feel I’m ready to make the step up so I’m excited about the challenge.

“There’s been talk of fighting Gavin Prunty who would be a tough opponent. He has 4 wins from 5 fights and I know he’s a bit of a

show boater but if he starts that with me then I think I can knock him

out.”

“I’ll be a bit nervous on the day but he doesn’t have the experience I

have from the amateur scene and I’ll be going in there to take his

head off.”

Michael has been training full time in Belfast’s legendary Breen’s Gym and head coach John Breen will be in his corner for the bout.

“I’m travelling up and down four days a week with my Dad Niall for training in Breen’s gym and the training has been brilliant. I’ve been

there for two or three months and we’ll be stepping it up now in the

build up to October 2nd.

“I’ve started sparring last week and I’ve been in with Michael Kelly

who will fight Frankie Gavin for the Irish Title in Birmingham in

September. There’s six weeks to go now and I’ll be doing plenty of

sparring so that I’m super fit for the fight.

“The training in Carn was always intensive but this is a step up in

Breen’s Gym and theirs a higher standard of sparring partners although

I was lucky in Inishowen that I could go to the Illies to spar with

William McLaughlin. There’s a very high caliber of pro in Breen’s Gym

with Paul McCloskey who’s a European Champion and EU Champion Andy Murray and so I’m learning all the time.”

McLaughlin’s first bout in the paid ranks is sure to attract huge support from the sporting public of the peninsula and he admits he is looking forward to putting on a show for them.

“There are a lot of people in Inishowen looking for tickets already and

hopefully I can get the local crowd behind me and give them something

to cheer about,” he concluded.

Tickets for the Hunky Dorys Fight Night priced from €40 go on sale from 9am on Wednesday, September 1st from Ticketmaster.ie / 0818 719300, The Aura, Letterkenny: 074 9106422, The Radisson Blu, Letterkenny: 074 9194444, Eurospar, Dungiven: 028 77741245 or Julie, Dungiven: 07745 698372.