Sport

Paddy Barnes: Come and see how good I really am

Paddy Barnes pictured during yesterday's Boxing Press conference in Belfast. Picture by Ann McManus.
Paddy Barnes pictured during yesterday's Boxing Press conference in Belfast. Picture by Ann McManus. Paddy Barnes pictured during yesterday's Boxing Press conference in Belfast. Picture by Ann McManus.

PADDY Barnes says fight fans will see how good he is when he takes on former world title contender Silvio Olteanu for the WBO European Lightweight title on June 17.

After two forgettable scraps to kick-off his career, Barnes moves up several levels at the Waterfront Hall against the Spain-based Romanian with a 16-11-1 record.

‘The Leprechaun’ won two Olympic medals in his amateur days, but still feels he has something to prove as he embarks on the toughest test of his fledging pro career.

“It’s good for me to step up because I don’t like people talking shit saying: ‘Barnes is fighting a nobody’,” he said.

“This time I’m not fighting a nobody, I’m fighting an ex European champion and somebody who has fought for the world title, so I’m not fooling anyone. I’m going into the deep-end to fight for a title in my third fight. People should come and see how good I really am.”

“They’ll see more mature performance and a better Paddy Barnes.

“They haven’t seen the best of me because I’ve been fighting against people who have come to survive and don’t want to attack me. It’s hard because you’re fighting somebody so negative.”

Barnes expects Olteanu to come to win and says that will bring the best out of him.

“It’s a challenge I’m really excited for and I’m really looking forward to,” he said.

“100 per cent it’s a big step up in class – he has fought for the world title, he’s won multiple European titles and he’s obviously going to come to win against somebody who’s only 2-0. That excites me and it’ll make me train harder because I’ll be more nervous. I’ll be ready for this fight.”

The fight is scheduled to go 10 rounds and Olteanu, who took IBF champion Armando Santos the distance in Mexico back in 2014, has been stopped just twice in his career. Barnes is confident he will last the course if he has to.

“I did think I needed to slow myself down but I think I could go 10 rounds at a high pace flat-out. Why not?” he said.

“I’ve seen other boxers do it and I train just as hard, if not harder, than anybody else in the world. Why can’t I do 10 rounds at a high pace? Lets see if I can or not.

“I’ve never sparred 10 in my life, the most I’ve sparred is seven and it was tiring, but if I have to do 10 rounds I’ll still be standing, I’ll not be that tired.”

Barnes said his management team at Matt Macklin’s MTK (Mack the Knife) Gym have fully supported his desire to progress quickly in his professional career.

“I’m with the best management team in the world,” he said.

“I just asked them for a title fight in my next fight and it was a done deal.

“They believe in my talent as much as I believe in it myself. They feel that the time is right to fight for this kind of title and they are backing me 100 per cent.”

The June 17 Waterfront Hall bill also features Steven Ward, Lewis Crocker, the pro debut of David Oliver Joyce, Jamie Conlan, Jono Carroll v Johnny Quigley and Craig Evans' lightweight rumble with Stephen Ormond.

Meanwhile, Barnes has welcomed the appointment of Bernard Dunne as Irish boxing’s High Performance Director. The Dubliner, who was unveiled last week, fills the void left by Gary Keegan’s departure in 2008.

“I thought it was great,” said Barnes.

“I thought they (the IABA) would bring somebody else in as a favour but Bernard has the right qualifications for the position. He has a great background at top level boxing.

“He was at the Olympics in 2000 so he’ll know what the boxers’ wants and needs are and he can bring that into the job now.

“After Gary Keegan left we had absolutely nobody. Billy Walsh was trying to do all jobs (High Performance head coach and director) and it just never worked out.

“The position was empty since 2008 and it’s good to see it filled now. It’s a bit too late for me, but it is what it is.”