Paddy Barnes to fight former European champion and world title challenger on Belfast bill

Paddy Barnes [2(0)-0] has had his wishes granted and will take a massive step up in class for his next fight.

The Belfast flyweight will box for the WBO European title at the Waterfront Hall on the June 17th BoxNation card in the city, and will face an opponent with world level credential.

‘The Leprechaun’ will take on Spanish-based Romanian Silveau Oltneau [16(7)-11(2)] on the card as he quickly leaves the journeyman stage of his career behind.

The Madrid-based 39 year old may not have the most attractive looking record, but has mixed it at the highest level.

Olteanu won and defended the EU title in 2009 and 2010 before travelling to Japan and taking on reigning WBA champ Daiki Kameda, losing a split decision. The Eastern European then won and defended the European title twice in 2012.

Recently he has been stopped in the sixth by Paul Butler and, in his last fight, he was defeated via majority decision by Mohammed Obbadi for the EU title.

The fight represents a big step up for 30 year old Barnes, whose first two fights came against rather negative journeymen in Stefan Slavchev and Adrian Dimas Garzon.

Also on the card in five and a half weeks time will be debutant David Oliver Joyce, Steven Ward, Lewis Crocker, Jamie Conlan, a lightweight clash between Steve Ormond and Craig Evans, and a super featherweight tussle between Jono Carroll and Johnny Quigley.

Photo Credit: Ricarddo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)

–

LISTEN: Mick Conlan joins Gavan Casey and Joe O’Neill on Episode 4 of The Irish Boxing Show