Paddy Barnes planning Easter return as he begins warm-up for Olympic Games

Paddy Barnes is hoping to make his ring return later this month after a year-long absence, while the Belfast light-flyweight has suggested he may not turn professional after the Rio Olympics, as had been anticipated.

An Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) senior women’s selection, likely to feature Katie Taylor, will take on France at the National Stadium on Easter weekend, but two-time Olympic medallist Barnes hopes to be added to the March 26 line-up along with a number of his male international team-mates. The Belfast native has not boxed competitively since his successful World Series of Boxing (WSB) campaign ended last April when he booked his place at a third Olympics.

Irish interim head coach Zaur Antia and Ulster’s head of high performance John Conlan are looking into the possibility of staging bouts for Barnes and his male colleagues later this month.