Date: 16th September 2016 at 3:53pm
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It?s widely expected that now the Rio Olympics are over some of those that have remained loyal to the amateur sport will cross over into the professional ranks.

Today a boxer who has won Olympic medals on two occasions has announced he is doing just that.

The news has broken that the Belfast boxer Paddy Barnes has decided to switch to the professional ranks.

The 29-year-old lost his opening bout at the Rio games to Samuel Carmona after having trouble making the light-flyweight limit.

According to reports, Barnes will box at flyweight as a professional and has remarked about making the switch,

‘It’s time to go pro, I’ve been in the amateurs too long and I want a new challenge.

‘My debut will possibly be before Christmas in Belfast. It’s my home city so it would be great to begin there.’


Barnes, so we?re informed, will sign a professional contract at a well-known English stable, which one is currently a closely guarded secret.