While many star boxers fall over each other to offer sanctimonious proclamations that the much-hyped meeting of Floyd Mayweather Jr and Conor McGregor is a nail in the sport’s coffin, three-time Olympian Paddy Barnes takes a different view.

Paddy Barnes is keen to silence his doubters when he returns to the ring this summer at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall.

Jamie Conlan claimed a contentious split-decision victory over Nicgaraguan Yader Cardoza, while Paddy Barnes eased to a six-round points win against Argentine Adrian Dimas Garzon at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast on Friday night.

Paddy Barnes is eager to upstage his friend and fight-night headliner Jamie Conlan tomorrow night in Belfast.

As the man himself so aptly put it following a night of drama in Belfast: “There’s never a dull moment in a Paddy Barnes fight!”

Paddy Barnes looks likely to make his professional debut in Belfast in November after confirming his intentions to move into the paid ranks.

It was an action-packed day for Team Ireland in Rio today, with two winners, four qualifiers in total - but one devastating disappointment, writes Daragh Ó Conchúir.

Paddy Barnes believes fears surrounding the zika virus are overblown as the two-time Olympic medallist prepares for his third Games in Rio this summer.

McGuigan believes that allowing professional fighters to compete at Rio 2016 is a 'publicity' stunt.

“Whether people agree with what he did or not, they need to just accept it and get on with their lives.”

Irish head coach Billy Walsh is planning to keep Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan busy in quality tournaments ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games.

Ireland’s London 2012 bronze medallists Michael Conlan and Paddy Barnes secured quota places for the Rio 2016 Olympics after recording dramatic wins in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) in Venezuela on Saturday.

Olympic medallist’s Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlon have booked their place at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Maiquetia, the city in Venezuela where Paddy Barnes will tonight look to seal his place in next year’s Olympic Games, last made the news in 1999 when mudslides devastated the region and caused tens of thousands of casualties.

More than 1.5m euro in funding is being provided to 75 athletes - from 14 different sports - through the Irish Sports Council, it was confirmed today.

Boxing: Paddy Barnes eased to within two wins of qualifying for his third successive Olympics after the USA threw in the towel in Italy on Saturday night.

Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan will both look to take another step towards qualification for next year’s Olympic Games in Brazil when they represent Italia Thunder in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) today.