Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan on Olympic trail again

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. 

Barnes is undefeated in the light flyweight division after three bouts, but will need to be at this best in Astana, Kazakhstan as he faces home favourite Temirtas Zhussupoy.

Only one fighter qualifies for Rio de Janeiro from Barnes’ weight class in a format where individual rounds won are every bit as important as the overall result and the Belfast boxer is currently ranked number one.