Paddy Barnes held talks with MGM about turning pro when he was over in Marbella this week.

The amateur legend travelled to the MGM to spar and take in the Lights Out at the Plaza show, which was topped by Matthew Macklin, but took time to talk to the relatively new yet growing boxing stable.

Barnes has always stated his desire to turn over, but stressed he would only ditch the vest if the right offer came in. Speaking to Kevin Byrne of the Sun this week he reconfirmed he has has held talks with promoters but hasn’t received an offer that tempted him to leave the High Performance Unit.

MGM, who look after Irish punchers Jamie Conlan, Declan Geraghty, Anthony Fitzgerald, Sean Turner, David Maguire, Ciaran Mullen, Jake Hanney and Sean Creagh, had expressed an interest in working with the two time Olympic medal winner in the past, but Barnes told Seconds out more serious talks took place whilst he was in Spain this week.

“The main reason I came here is because I’m fighting in two weeks in Poland at the Felix Stamm tournament and I have no sparring in Ireland. I knew Charlie Edwards was sparring here so I came over

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“MGM wanted to fly me out last month for a talk but I was going on holiday and couldn’t do it. But we have had a talk now about when I turn professional.

“They want me to go to Rio as well for the Olympics but they’re interested in me and I’m interested in turning professional.

“I would go pro at flyweight and then go to super-flyweight and then bantamweight.

“Eddie Hearn was talking to me before, Gary Hyde and also Banner Promotions in America — but they thought I was a featherweight!

“There’s a few there interested but it just depends on what’s best for me.”