Barnes to make WSB debut in North Africa today

BY IABA Press Officer Bernard O’Neill

Seven-time Irish Elite champion Paddy Barnes will make his World Series of Boxing (WSB) debut for Italia Thunder in North Africa tomorrow.

The Belfast light-fly (Holy Family BC) is slated to meet Algeria’s Mohammed Flissi in one of five bouts in Algiers, Algeria. Both boxers weighed-in this afternoon.

Flissi was beaten by Thailand’s Kaew Pongprayoon in his opening bout at the London Olympics.

Pongprayoon was unlucky to lose (13-10) to China’s Zou Shiming – who edged out Barnes on a count back following a 15-15 tie in the semi-finals at London 2012 – in the Olympic final.

Barnes claimed his 7th Irish Elite title after earning a unanimous decision over Hughie Myers at the National Stadium in Dublin last Friday.

Irish coach Zuar Antia will be working his corner in Algiers.

Italia Thunder have qualified for the WSB play-offs and will meet either the Baku Fires of Azerbaijan or the Russian Team in the last-eight.