One of Ireland’s prime Olympic medal hopes, boxer Paddy Barnes, has been left stunned by the latest world rankings which have resulted in him falling off the list just weeks before the Games begin in London.

With Olympic qualification secured Katie Taylor gets back to doing what she does best — winning medals — at the women’s world boxing championships in Qinhuangdao, China today when she faces Mavzuna Choriyeva.

THERE is a common perception that country people tend to be hugely impressed by the vast scale and expanse of major cities.

Ireland's John Joe Nevin has beaten African champion, Abdelhalim Ourradi of Algeria, in his heat of the Bantamweight 54kg competition.

The football landscape, like its political counterpart, is changing rapidly in Iraq since the fall of Saddam earlier this year. Erik Kirschbaum reports from Baghdad.