Olympic star Barnes takes another step on road to Rio

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.

Barnes, lining out for Italia Thunder against the USA in the World Series of Boxing (WSB), won after Melik Elliston’s corner raised the white flag in the fourth round in Roseto Degli Abruzzi.

Barnes had spent most of the first three rounds walking down the back-pedalling Denver fighter and was well ahead on points up to the stoppage.