Paddy Barnes gives retirement update
Paddy Barnes [5(1)-2(1)] gloves are not for hanging up just yet.
The Belfast flyweight has confirmed that he will fight on.
The three-time Olympian claimed he would ‘probably retire’ directly after his defeat to Oscar Mojica in New York on St Patrick’s Day.
The amateur legend and recent world title challenger had his nose broken in the first round, was dropped in the second but battled till the last.
However, despite a performance that won fans, Barnes deservedly lost the fight.
In typically honest fashion, the Cliftonville fighter admitted as much himself directly after the bout before going on to suggest he would retire.
“To be honest, I will probably retire now. I don’t think there is any point boxing on after a defeat like that.
” If I am going to box like that, then what’s the point boxing anymore? I can’t contest for a world title with that performance,” from the Madison Square Garden ring.
However, the popular puncher confirmed over the weekend that he would fight on. ‘The Leprechaun’ was present to watch the Ulster Hall show on Friday and claims, at 31, he still has the hunger and revealed he would fight on.
Speaking to the BBC he explained how “I’ve had time to think about what happened.”
“I took that fight because of the stage it was on, I took the fight at bantamweight and he was much bigger and stronger than me. I still want to fight again (but) going forward I’ll be fighting at flyweight.
“The transition was tougher than I thought. In my third fight I fought for the [WBO] European, fifth the [WBO] intercontinental. No one does that.”
“If its going to happen it will be a bit longer but the passion is still there. Even in my last fight fighting against a guy much bigger and stronger than me.”
“I was retiring after that fight. I really was considering retirement.”
Barnes did hold world champion before 10 fights ambition, but now believes it’s about the end goal of a becoming a world champion and not how fast you pick up a belt.
“I’ve tried to fast-track myself. I’ve only had seven fights and my record is 5-2 but I haven’t fought seven journeymen, I’ve fought a world champion, ex-European champions and people who had fought for world titles.
“Going forward, I probably need to rein it in a bit and give myself a six-fight plan and not be the fastest world champion but just go as far as I can.”
