By Scott Gilfoid: Paul McCloskey (23-2, 12 KO’s) will be fighting this month against light welterweight contender Manuel Perez (18-7-1, 4 KO’s) along with Commonwealth/IBF Inter-Continental super bantamweight champion Carl Frampton (14-0, 9 KO’s) vs. former IBF super bantamweight champion Steve Molitor (34-2, 12 KO’s) at the Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

I honestly don’t see either Frampton and especially McCloskey winning these fights. I can see them winning controversial decisions, but as far as actually winning the fights without controversy, nope, I can’t see that happening. Molitor, 32, is too big of a step up for the short and limited Frampton. Molitor knows how to fight and Frampton is going to be in shock at how much better he is compared to the fodder that’s been thrown in with him his entire career. That’s not a little jump up in competition that’s a rocket to the moon in terms of quality compared to the 3rd tier guys that Frampton has been fighting. I think Molitor is going to box Frampton’s head off in this fight.

McCloskey, 33, lost his last fight to DeMarcus Corley by a 10th round TKO last May. But you can say that McCloskey should be coming into this fight with three straight losses because his win over Breidis Prescott last year in September was laughingly bad. I thought that was the worst decision I’ve ever seen in my life behind Carl Froch’s win over Andre Dirrell in 2009 in Nottingham. McCloskey got totally dominated by Prescott and I could only give McCloskey one round in that fight. In McCloskey’s fight against Corley, McCloskey was out on his feet in the 10th and referee Ian John-Lewis did the right thing by stopping the fight before Corley had the opportunity to poleaxe McCloskey.

Also on the card will be featherweight Lee Selby vs. Martin Lindsay. I think Selby is the only good fighter on this card and he should smoke Lindsay no problems.