Crowd of Thousands welcome McCloskey back a Hero (CHEATED NOT DEFEATED)- VIDEO+PICS

[mindreader]

That's sad

[PunchingKeys]

both khan and McCloskey talked a lot of ****e

you dont lose 6 ****in rounds and then complain you got robbed

likewise you dont miss for 6 rounds and then act like a bad man

khan shouldnt get to say he would have ...he didnt

stfu and they should both move on and meet each other some other time

[SirTomJones]

lmao dumb irish.

[ATG Fighter]

LMAO Look at all these deluded people. Can't imagine any American fighter getting that kind of reception after such a poor performance. Boxers have it good over there

[Fights.]

You gotta love the Irish fans

[FloydTBE]

good to see that

[unleashed]

I think team mccloskey and the fans are quietly happy that they have a bit of an excuse that their boy lost.

[Forza]

This isn't even funny, it's sad. They really think they have an elite boxer but on a wordly circuit he would be a journeyman.

They should embrace Irish-American kelly pavlik at least hes good

[IronDanHamza]

"Cheated not defeated"

Even though he lost every round..

It's getting ridiculous now. "Amir was getting tired" is not cutting it.

[edgarg]

Video here: http://www.u.tv/Sport/Crowds-welcome...f-635329e076eb









Thousands of people lined the streets of the Derry village on Monday evening to see their hero return to the village he calls home.

The tone of the crowd was clear:

"The whole town's behind Dudey. He was robbed out of that fight. Everybody likes Dudey and we'll back him to the hilt. We want a rematch."

McCloskey's bid to take the world light-welterweight title from Khan ended in controversy, with a stoppage in the sixth round at the MEN Arena on Saturday night.

The ringside doctor entered the ring after the clash of heads opened up an inch-long gash above McCloskey's eye, consulting with the referee before ending the bout - a decision which stunned the 31-year-old fighter and his team.

McCloskey's supporters - including a troop of cheerleaders chanting "Dudey from the 'given wants a rematch" - said they are behind him:

"We're showing support for local man. The turnout is unbelievable; I don't think you'd get this support in any other town."

"He's our hero, but he's still just ordinary Dudey from Dungiven and that's what everybody loves about him."Paul McCloskey supporter
Engulfed by the crowd, McCloskey said he was encouraged by their support:

"I was a bit down in the dumps, but looking round here does give me a lift. I've got unfinished business to look after very soon hopefully."

The chants of "rematch, rematch" rang through the streets of Dungiven and while the fighter said there was "no doubt" he could still be world champion, another chance against Khan was "unlikely":

"Amir Khan's gone down in my ratings big time. He started talking a lot of gibberish at the press conference after the event. He definitely went below the belt a few times."

The father-of-two's coach and father-in-law, Francie McNicholl was certain the weekend's events would not stop McCloskey:

"We'll keep knocking on doors.

"There's other fights out there possible, but we want a rematch."



Its brilliant that he has a lot of support but an inspiration? Really?

I was very touched by the turnout for the losing fighter, but one thing puzzled me. Nothing to do with boxing, but a matter of geography.

I was not aware that there ever was such a place in Ireland as "Derry village..." although i suppose that there could have been a tiny place too small to be on a map. As far as I know..... Derry is a city, with probably by now well over 100,000 inhabitants. It's many years since I was there visiting friends, but I recall it as the only walled city left in Ireland. Of course I'm open to correction.