Paddy Barnes wants world title veteran next
Most fighters will spin the ‘I am only thinking about this fight’ line in the week building up to a pro bout, but Paddy Barnes [1(0)-0] isn’t most fighters.
The keen to kick on Belfast boxer, who fights Adrian Dimas Garzon [10(1)-21(9)] at the Waterfront Hall tonight, says he wants a title next and has two desired names if securing a tilt proved impossible.
Barnes has done his flyweight homework and will give his team two names he wants after his second pro fight.
The three-time Olympian has serious names in his sights – namely former world champion Edgar Sosa [52(30)-10(3)] and current WBC silver belt holder Muhammad Waseem [5(3)-0]. Mexican Sosa, a veteran of 15 world title bouts, has been defeated by pound-for-pound number one Roman Gonzalez and has beaten the likes of Brian Viloria. Sosa is currently ranked #10 with the WBC, while Waseem, a Korean-based Pakistani, is #4 with the organisation.
Barnes said that “it doesn’t really matter who I am fighting in this fight. After this fight I want a big name. I want Edgar Sosa or Muhammad Waseem. There hasn’t been mention of those types from the team yet, but I am mentioning them now because that is what I want. I am planting the seed.”
Indeed so keen is Barnes to be fast tracked that, before the show was postponed due to a Jamie Conlan cold, the double Olympic bronze medal winner was willing to step in, fight ‘The Mexican’s’ opponent and Yader Cardoza for the WBC International Silver belt on February 18th.
“When Jamie Conlan had to pull out of this fight I asked for the fight. I would take a title fight now. I am not afraid of losing. I don’t think I will be beat, but I am not afraid of it. I will fight anyone and I believe I am better than most of the boys out there.”
Barnes may not care who is up to be put down this Friday, but he should be aware of what Garzon brings to the table considering the Argentinean, who took Kevin Satchell the distance, fought his friend and stable mate Jamie Conlan in the National Stadium back in 2015.
However, the Cliftonville man suggests he hasn’t questioned the older of the two boxing brothers about the clash.
“Jamie knocked him out so there was nothing I could really ask Jamie about. We didn’t really talk about him. It’s not a bad fight, it’s a good fight really. He regularly fights at bantamweight so he will be much heavier than me. He will come to win and come forward, which suits me. It means I have someone in front of me who I can throw and land punchers on.”
Landing punches was a problem for Barnes during his debut, but his first ever paid opponent came to spoil rather than fight and it was a scrappy affair long before the Stefan Slavchev lifted the Belfast fighter up onto his shoulder. The manner in which the victory arrived still wrangles with the World title hopeful, and he is confident that Saturday will prove more entertaining.
“I am still pissed off about it. I sold a lot of tickets and people came to see a good show and I wasn’t able to give them that because the guy just came to spoil and then he goes and lifts me up and it’s all over.”
Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)
Jamie Conlan joins Gavan Casey and Joe O’Neill for Episode 3 of The Irish Boxing Show:
