A triumphant Paul McCloskey returned to a hero’s welcome in Dungiven after taking another step closer to a world title fight at the weekend.
By Connla Young
connla@derrypost.com
Hundreds of people turned out to greet the hard-hitting light welterweight who crushed former world champ Cesar Bazan at a packed Letterkenny Leisure Complex at the weekend.The Dungiven hit man hammered home his tough credentials in the bruising encounter and extended his unbeaten run to 16 wins.People across the county have taken “Dudey’s” cause to heart and his reputation as a serious title contender received a serious boost after Saturday’s victory.Pubs and clubs across the county were stuffed as punters packed in to catch the action live on RTE.And on Sunday, the Dungiven dangerman was ferried around his home town in a top down convertible as dozens turned out to give him a well earned pat on the back.The hero of the hour said he wasn’t expecting such a welcome home. “I was expecting nothing at all when we came back home,” he said.“When I came back and saw all the cars I thought someone was dead and people were at the wake. “When Emma and I turned up I was told all the people were there for me so we did a lap around the town.“It is nice to be appreciated by people in your own town and it made me feel good.”