Barnes in fine shape for Frampton bill after classy win in Edinburgh
PADDY Barnes prepared for an upcoming WBO European title defence with a six-round points win over Juan Hinostroza in Edinburgh last night.
Barnes kept the Spanish-based Peruvian at bay with rapid flurries and worked the right hand and left hook early, trying to catch his southpaw opponent napping.
Corner man Danny Vaughan implored Barnes to double the jab on the way in, before introducing body shots and uppercuts in an attempt to weaken his rugged foe.
Hinostroza had never been stopped and even snatched a draw with self-hyped prospect Prince Patel last year.
He copped Barnes with a couple of slapping right hooks as the Belfast man rumbled forward in the second round.
Hinostroza became a little over confident though and tried to trade, before a quality counter right hand hit him flush on the jaw and he touched down, prompting a count from referee Darren Maxwell.
Barnes set up the punch with a well-placed left to the body that rocked Hinostroza hard enough to encourage the Belfast fighter to drop the right hand in behind.
Barnes was moving well in the third, pushing a high tempo, trying to make his opponent work for every second of the round.
Hinostroza lasted the distance with world title challenger Charlie Edwards, so it was unlikely he would fold easily.
Carrying slightly more weight than usual meant that Barnes had more pop in his punches and a gash opened on the Peruvian’s scalp midway through the third.
Barnes’ activity and consistent body attack was affecting Hinostroza who took a big gulp of air in the middle of the fifth and decided he would be better off forcing the action.
Barnes walked away with a 6053 success on the referee’s scorecard.
Barnes was critical of his performance afterwards, but admitted that it was about staying active and avoiding any bumps or bruises.
“It was good that I got a competitive fight, getting the rounds in. I wasn’t expecting to stop him,” said Barnes.
“Carl Frampton’s bringing big time boxing back to Belfast. All the Irish boxers back home will get a chance to showcase their skills on BoxNation and BT Sports.”
Boxing up at bantamweight here, ‘The Leprechaun’ will slim down to flyweight for his appearance on next month’s ‘Frampton Reborn’ undercard and more fighters have since been added to the running order.
Monkstown light-heavyweight Steven Ward pushed aside the disappointment of not featuring on Frampton’s abandoned bout with Andres Gutierrez by grabbing a slot.
“It’s great having these events in Belfast and the response you get from the fans is unbelievable,” said Ward.
Big-punching prospect Lewis Crocker’s opponents have yet to reach the third round but the welterweight is not looking for early finishes.
“The knockout streak is good to have but I won’t be putting any pressure on myself to get the stoppage,” said Crocker.
Promising lightweight Gary Cully, who won his debut by knockout, and hard-hitting Liverpool heavyweight Alex Dickinson are both pencilled in.
In last night’s Edinburgh main event, Sam Sexton won the British heavyweight title away from home against Gary Cornish.
Cornish was aiming to become Scotland’s first British heavyweight champion but was defeated by unanimous decision.
Sexton twice travelled to Belfast to defeat Martin Rogan.