PADDY Barnes the professional boxer arrived on Saturday night, writes Andy Watters.
The wise-cracking comedy routine was set aside as Belfast’s ‘Leprechaun’ got serious and showed off some sweet skills to capture the WBO European flyweight title over 10 competitive rounds at the Waterfront Hall.
Several of the rounds were close against accurate and experienced Spaniard Silvio Olteanu, but Barnes was the clear winner and it was hard to see how one judge ruled the fight a draw.
The other two went for Barnes 97-94 and 97-93.
