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Willie McLaughlin (file photo). ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan
Fight night

World Series of Boxing: McLaughlin’s winning streak on the line

Donegal middleweight Willie McLaughlin is the only Irish fighter in WSB action this weekend.

WILLIE MCLAUGHLIN CAN continue his winning streak when he returns to the World Series of Boxing this weekend.

McLaughlin comes up against Dmytro Mytrofanov when his Italia Thunder team host the Ukraine Ottomans in Milan on Saturday night.

The Donegal middleweight won all five of his bouts last season to help the Thunder win the second WSB title.

Now he needs to make it a straight six if the Italians are to bounce back from the 4-1 defeat inflicted on them by John Joe Nevin, Joe Ward and the British Lionhearts last time out.

“I am fitter and in better shape than I was last season so yes, I am ready,” McLaughlin said ahead of his first appearance this season.

“I see Mytrofanov as being my toughest opponent to date. I know that if I box at my best I will beat him.”

Mytrofanov, 23, pushed two-time WSB champion Sergiy Derevyanchenko all the way before losing on the judges’ cards in his last bout and the Ukranian was quick to turn up the heat on the man from Illies Golden Gloves.

“I am confident of victory in Italy after my good showing against Derevyanchenko. The pressure is on McLaughlin and I will be exploiting this.”

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