PADDY Barnes came through a medical at Belfast’s Knightsbridge Private Hospital yesterday as part of his preparations for the first defence of his WBO European flyweight title on what he describes as “the greatest card Ireland has ever seen” at the SSE Arena on November 18.
Barnes won his title with an impressive decision win against Silvio Olteanu back in June and took his record to 4-0 with another distance win, this time over Juan Hinostroza in Edinburgh earlier this month.
“I’m training away and it’s all good,” said ‘The Leprechaun’ after his medical.
“If you don’t pass the medical, you don’t fight so it very important.
There has been some speculation that Barnes could take on unbeaten Spaniard Aramis Torres on November 18, but he was unable to confirm his opponent yesterday.
Next month’s fight night is headlined by Carl Frampton’s return to the ring on a show that also features two world title fights – Zolani Tete’s WBO bantamweight rumble with South African Exhibition Gonya and Jamie Conlan’s challenge for the IBF super-flyweight belt currently held by belt by Jerwin Ancajas.
Barnes was ringside last weekend to watch Ryan Burnett unify the world bantamweight titles with a hard-earned, fully-deserved in over Zhanat Zhakiyanov.
“Last Saturday was a great night’s entertainment,” said Barnes.
“And next month is going to be a brilliant bill. I don’t think there’s ever been two world title fights on the same show in Ireland before.
“It’s great to see Jamie Conlan out, he’s a Belfast boy, and then you’ve got Tete, who Ryan Burnett could fight, and then obviously you’ve got Frampton and me defending my title.
“I think it’s the greatest card Ireland has ever seen.
Barnes is an integral part of this golden age in Irish boxing. His two Olympic medals and the success of Frampton, Burnett, the Conlan brothers and others have fuelled “boom-time” in the sport.
It’s great to be professional at this stage when boxing in Belfast, and Ireland as a whole, is booming. I’ve touched lucky.”
