Boxing: Barry Morrison's Euro title bid dashed by Paul McCloskey

Barry Morrison's bid to prise the European light-welterweight crown from Paul McCloskey ended in defeat in Ireland last night when the home fighter defended his title for the second time - and set his sights on a world title clash with Amir Khan.After stopping his Motherwell opponent in seven rounds in the Hunky Dory's Fight Night event in Letterkenny, he immediately targeted an Anglo-Irish bout for the WBA belt.

McCloskey was comfortably in control of the early rounds, working away at hi

s opponent without doing huge amounts of damage.

Morrison sank to one knee in the fifth round after being caught flush on the temple by a right hand from McCloskey and was on the canvas again in the seventh but it was ruled not a punch - but the fight lasted only around another minute.

McCloskey pinned his opponent back on the ropes and landed a combination of punches. No real killer blow was apparent, but the 30-year-old Scot staggered to the ground and referee Mark Green stopped the fight.

McCloskey told RTE afterwards: "I was so pleased with the performance, I started really sharp. He's a hard, hard man and that's a brilliant result for me, it pushes me up the ladder. The crowd were amazing, and that really pushes you on. It was good, I was happy."

Asked about the future, he replied: "What's the next move after becoming European champion? It's obviously the world. Amir Khan is one of the big names out there - he's English, I'm Irish, it'd be a great fight for this part of the world. Let's get it on."

Coach John Breen added: "He showed real class tonight. Barry Morrison's not a bad fighter and Paul made him look second-rate tonight."

England's Stephen Foster Jr also got his hands on a European title last night when he crushed Leva Kirakosyan at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton to become the continent's super-featherweight champion. The Salford fighter cut his opponent with a left hook in the first round and was always in control as he inflicted a third-round knock-out on the Armenian.

Kirakosyan had become ragged in the face of Foster's more composed attack and left himself wide open to a huge double blow from the left hand of the home favourite. He scrambled to his feet with the count at seven but referee Adrio Zannoni adjudged he was in no position to continue.

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