By Alexey Sukachev

Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland - Paul McCloskey (22-1, 12KOs) won a very close twelve round unanimous decision over Breidis Prescott (24-3, 19KOs) in a WBA junior welterweight eliminator. The scores were 114-113, 115-113 and 114-113.

Prescott was getting through in the first round and scored a questionable knockdown call when McCloskey was off-balance. In the second Prescott was landing his right hands, going to the body and busted open McCloskey's mouth and nose.

Prescott was targeting McCloskey's busted nose in the third and fourth rounds. The Irishman was starting to get his boxing going around the middle of the fourth. He was landing some good quick counters.

In the sixth round, McCloskey was shaken up by a hard right hand and landed a few more to buckle the Irish boxer's knees. The seventh was another strong round for Prescott, who landed hard punches to the head and boy as McCloskey slowed down. McCloskey had a much better eight round, going back to his jab and landing straight punches.

After an even ninth, Prescott tired bad and allowed McCloskey to take over the action in the tenth and eleventh rounds.

They came out trading the twelfth round. McCloskey was fresher and trying to overwhelm Prescott with a high volume of punches. Prescott was landing a few hard shots in spots but couldn't follow them up.

In the final twenty seconds, McCloskey got hurt from a series of punches and Prescott tried to finish but there wasn't enough time as the bell rang.