Paddy Barnes aiming big ahead of assault on the pros
After three Olympics, two Olympic bronze, European gold and silver, and two Commonwealth golds, Paddy Barnes enters the pro game with just one thing in mind – stardom.
The 29 year old confirmed his move to the pro game last Monday where he will be managed by Matthew Macklin of Macklin’s Gym Marbella, with an announcement on a promoter to be revealed “very soon.”
The Belfast ace recently began training for his debut date, heavily rumoured to be on November 5th at the Titanic Exhibition Centre – which would suggest, although not confirm, that he will be promoted by Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions.
Barnes spoke to Irish-Boxing.com about his move to the pros and claims that the training is “not different at all, I’ve been a professional since I was 17. ‘Amateur’ was just a tag.”
“I will have to train differently soon when I’m fighting for titles though.”
The popular Holy Family boxer is hoping to make it big in paid ranks, and admits “fighting in New York and Vegas is the dream.” Therefore, despite increased rehydration time, Barnes was not swayed by any temptation to try and boil down to his amateur weight of light fly. He reasoned that “in the pro game, the heavier you are, it seems the more marketable you are.”
“Lower weights don’t really get the recognition that they deserve. Roman Gonzalez has done brilliantly becoming pound-for-pound number one, he’s a legend.”
Instead Barnes will campaign at flyweight (112lbs/50.8kg), and is looking to hit the ground running. Outlining his pathway, he notes how “the first fight will be over six rounds.There is no point in doing four because I have had a lot of five rounders in the WSB.”
“Then I would like a title fight, preferably a European title, inside five fights.”
