Paul McCloskey will finally get his chance to fight for a European title when he faces former World Champion Souleymane M'baye for the vacant European Light Welterweight belt on July 3rd.
However, the Derry southpaw will concede home advantage after he was made an offer that manager and trainer John Breen admitted was simply too good to refuse to travel to Paris to take on M'baye.
"They made us a very, very good offer to go to France but Paul's one of those guys who has no problems going into the lions den," said Breen.
The fight will take place at the Palais des Sport Marcel Cerdan in the Paris suburb of Levallois-Perret - in what is effectively M'baye's hometown.
"They could fight in M'baye's front room as far as I'm concerned and Paul would still beat him. I've said all along he's a World Champion in the making and he'll prove that again that winning a European title on the road.
"Paul beat Colin Lynes in his back yard to win the British title at a weeks notice and his first defence was on the road too against Dean Harrison in Liverpool and he knocked him out so it's not an issue for him.
"He's in good shape because we've known for a while now that the fight was going to happen in early July but now that the venue and an exact date has been set we have something to focus on."
McCloskey echoed Breen's sentiments and says he can't wait to get his hands on the European title.
"I've no problem going to Paris," revealed McCloskey. "It's a beautiful city and hopefully it will be a beautiful night with me lifting the European title.
"At the end of the day when the ring clears and that first bell goes it will be just me, him and the referee in that ring so the crowd won't have any affect on me."
© UTV News