THERE was always a danger that a red-head was going to steal the show on Saturday night – but not too many predicted Paddy Barnes would be the name on everybody’s lips.
Mexican superstar Saul Alvarez had been the talk of fight fans in the city since it was confirmed earlier in the week that he would be jetting in to support Golden Boy stablemate Horacio Garcia against Carl Frampton.
And there was plenty of fidgeting among the crowd at the SSE Arena as eyes were peeled for a possible sighting of the three-time world champion.
But by the time ‘Canelo’ made an appearance for the bill-topper, receiving a huge ovation after entering the ring at the end of the Frampton-Garcia war, it was another red head who was already the talk of the place.
Earlier in the evening three-time Olympian Barnes had produced the best performance - by some distance - of his professional career against Eliecer Quezada.
Yet to take an easy option in his first four fights, the Nicaraguan was viewed as yet another dangerous assignment as the north Belfast man attempts to fast-track his career in the paid ranks.
Tall and rangy, Quezada had scored two impressive wins over Yader Cardoza – who pushed Jamie Conlan all the way back in March – earlier in his career, and was expected to give Barnes his toughest test thus far.
But the 30-year-old boxed smart and, after dropping Quezada with a short right hook in the second, finished the job with a superb body shot in the sixth of the scheduled 10 rounds.
Up until this point Barnes has admitted struggling to shake off some of the old habits from his storied amateur days. On Saturday night, though, fans witnessed the arrival of Paddy Barnes 2.0 - the professional fighter.
Charged with setting the tone before old friends Frampton and Jamie Conlan entered the ring later, Barnes - roared on by a huge following – didn’t disappoint.
Right from the off he set about breaking Quezada down to the body, timing a couple of nice rights under the elbow, though he also took a few himself in the opening three minutes.
The body-snatching continued in the second, Barnes rocking the Nicaraguan with a left hook and catching him with a right hand up top. Quezada regathered himself and moved forward, forcing Barnes to the ropes, but after a quick exchange a short right hook bang on the money left the more experienced man on the floor.
Rather than rush in and try to finish the job after Quezada beat the count, Barnes showed impressive composure by keeping his distance, avoiding the flailing long levers of the 26-year-old and picking some lovely shots before the bell sounded.
With Quezada visibly tiring as the rounds wore on, Barnes continued to apply educated pressure, walking his opponent down and closing the distance all the time, making it difficult for the taller man to unload any meaningful combinations.
Barnes was given a final warning for a low blow after a couple of borderline shots in the fifth but didn’t let it disrupt him.
And the finish eventually came in the following round, a lovely left hook right into the bread basket leaving Quezada crumpled on the floor, gasping for air. He wouldn’t beat the count this time.
“I knew from the second round when he went down that he didn’t want to know,” said the two-time Olympic bronze medallist.
“I felt I didn’t really touch him but he just wanted out. I kept backing him up and didn’t give him space to breathe and I got the job done.
“It was unbelievable to fight in front of this Belfast crowd. It was unreal. I wanted to give the crowd something to shout about and hopefully I did that.”
Barnes hasn’t tended to hang about before getting back in the ring, and is planning to enjoy Christmas before hopefully making his return on St Patrick’s Day in the Big Apple.
“I’m hoping to get back out in March after I have a break over the Christmas period,” he said.
“I’d like to get out on Mick’s [Conlan] undercard in New York if I can.”
