UPDATED AT 17.00
PADDY BARNES HAD a comfortable morning’s work at the World Boxing Championships in Almaty, taking a 3-0 win over Milos Baltic in the flyweight division.
The Belfast boxer came out strongly in the opening two rounds and completely outclassed his opponent in the last to take a 29-28, 29-28, 30-27 victory.
Speaking after the fight, Barnes said his main concern in the fight was not so much his opponent but having to fight without a head guard.
“It was really, really strange. There was a clash of heads and it felt weird.”
However, while he did experience what he described as “a wee nick”, Barnes made clear it wasn’t anything to be concerned about going into the last 16 of the championships.
The European silver medallist also said he felt stronger at flyweight than he did in his previous weight class, telling Ken Egan ringside: “I might not be the biggest, but I’m the strongest.”
In the afternoon, fellow Belfast fighter Tommy McCarthy beat Samir El-Mais of Canada in a split decision 30-27, 28-29, 29-28.
Speaking afterwards, the 22-year old said: “I feel brilliant, I knew had more ability but I knew he was going to be a workhorse and I had to work hard for it. I’m delighted to be in the last 16, it’s my first seniors at the world so it’s great to win two fights.”
The news wasn’t so good for Mayo’s Ray Moylette who lost his light-welterweight bout to Ermek Sakenov of Kyrgystan.
Belfast’s Tommy McCarthy (heavyweight) is the last Irishman in action today.
First published at 09.00.
