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Fighter Favourites: ‘The Leprechaun’ Paddy Barnes

We like to find out from Irish boxers who their favourites are – the fights and fighters that have inspired them past and present.

This week it is the turn of triple Olympian and current pro Paddy Barnes [2(0)-0].

The Belfast flyweight is currently preparing for his WBO European flyweight title fight with Silvio Oltneau next weekend

Q: Favourite Current Fighter?
A: Vasyl Lomachenko. He’s the most complete boxer I have ever seen in my life.

Q: Favourite of All Time?
A: Sugar Ray Leonard. His fast feet and hands, and the skills he had, were amazing.

Q: Favourite Irish Fighter?
A: When I was 12 years old David Oliver Joyce was my favourite boxer. I used to love watching him, he used to stop everyone. He was my age and weight, but thankfully I didn’t fight him as I might have retired early!

Q: Favourite Fight?
A: Any of the Barrera v Morales fights. Genuine hatred and serious speed, power, and skill. Two absolute warriors.

Q: Favourite of Your Own Fights?
A: Winning my final WSB fight [v Yoel Finol Rivas] in Venezuela. One fight away from Olympic qualification and I put in a good performance in front of a hostile Venezuelan crowd of 5,000.

Joining Barnes on the card next week will be Sean McGlinchey, Lewis Crocker, Tyrone McKenna, Jamie Conlan, Davey Oliver Joyce and Steven Ward, as well as rankings title fights for Stephen Ormond and Jono Carroll against Craig Evans, and Johnny Quigley respectively.

Tickets for the ‘Battle of Belfast’ card on June 17th at the Waterfront Hall cost £30, £40, £60, and £150, and are available from the boxers involved or from HERE.

frayne carpentry

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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