Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WATERFRONT BRAWL
Barnes relishing a step up in class
PADDY BARNES insists he will thrive under the pressure of fighting for a European title in only his third professional bout. Barnes is preparing to take on experienced Silvio Olteanu for the WBO flyweight belt at the Waterfront Hall tonight. It is a significant step up in class for the former amateur star, but one Barnes feels he needs to take if he wants to inch closer to a world title shot in the near future. Victory tonight will elevate the 30-year-old into the top 15 of the WBO rankings, and potentially set up a showdown with Zou Shiming. Shiming currently holds the WBO flyweight world title, offering Barnes plenty of incentive as he prepares for tonight’s test against Olteanu. “Anyone who knows boxing will know how big a step up this will be on Saturday night,” Barnes said. “Fighting for a European title in only my third pro fight is massive. It is against a serious opponent, but this is a step I need to take. “I want to be fighting for a world title and I want to do it as quickly as possible and create a bit of history. “I am jumping into the deep end, but that’s what I have to do. I could have fought another 10 journey men and had a 12-0 record, but what’s the point? “If I am going to fight journey men I will never improve. I am 30 years of age and I have all the experience in the world. “Chuck me in with this guy and it won’t faze me at all. “It will elevate me to bigger and better things.” Barnes last fought amateur rival Shiming at the 2012 London Olympics, losing out to the Chinese boxing star in the semi-finals. “I lost on a count back, but I won the last round,” Barnes added. “If it had gone another round I would have beaten him. “I don’t think Shiming has improved much since turning professional. I would love that fight.” Barnes could make history if he wins a world title in his next three fights, eclipsing Scottish boxer Paul Weir won the WBO world minimumweight title in his sixth pro bout. “I created history as an amateur and I can create history as a professional,” three-time Olympian Barnes said. “I want to win this European title and then I will be top 15 in the world. “Zou Shiming is the one I want. If I can break the record for least fights to win a world title, that will be great.” Also on tonight’s bill Craig Evans defends his WBO European Lightweight title against Stephen Ormond, while Jono Carroll and Johnny Quigley fight for the vacant IBF European super-featherweight belt.