Jimmy Moore of the St Francis BC in Limerick has hailed the incredible international and domestic record of Paddy Barnes.

Barnes bowed out of the Rio Olympics yesterday to Spain’s Samuel Carmona on a split decision in the 49kg class.

Carmona got the nod after three fiery rounds of world class boxing. Barnes sportingly congratulated the Madrid orthodox after his win.

Moore described the Holy Family BC man and three-time Olympian as the best we’ve ever had in the 49kg division.

“Paddy has won medals at the Olympics,Europeans Elites,Commonwealth Games, European Union Championships and multi-nation tournaments. It’s a phenomenal record by any standard, said Moore, the last Irishman to beat Barnes in 2006.

“If any one of us won even one of those medals we’d be proud.He’s been performing at the top level for so long and he’s easily the best light-flyweight we’ve ever had.”

The St Francis BC man, pictured above (red) versus Barnes in the 2006 Elite Irish final,also pointed out that Barnes won all seven of his fights for Italia Thunder in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) to qualify for his third successive Olympics in Rio.

There was just one Rio berth available in the WSB light-fly class in 2015.

Barnes targeted it and nailed it to finish in pole position after winning seven on the bounce after travelling over 30,000 miles into three different continents in the space of four months.

The two-time Olympic medallist won gold for Ireland at a Junior Four Nations in 2004. He’s been one of the men to beat in the 49kg class domestically and internationally since.

PADDY BARNES

Light-flyweight
(Holy Family, Belfast)
Born: 9 April, 1987

2004
Won gold medal in Junior Four Nations in Aberavon

2005
Feb 11 Cathal McGuinness (Belfast), National Stadium PTS
(Final of Irish Intermediate Championships – light-flyweight)
Mar 11 Jimmy Moore (St Francis), National Stadium L-PTS
(Semi-final of Irish Championships)
May 21 Shane Cox (Gorey), National Stadium PTS
(Semi-final of Irish Junior Championships)
May 27 Jamie Quigley (St Paul’s), National Stadium PTS
(Final of Irish Junior Championships)
June 4 Lee Lewis (Wales), Beach Ballroom, Aberdeen PTS
(Final of Junior Four Nations tournament; bye in semi-finals)
Aug 17 Michael Rantso (Botswana), Kelvin Hall, Glasgow PTS
(Quarter-final of Commonwealth Championships)
Aug 19 Mo Nasir (Wales), Kelvin Hall, Glasgow L-PTS
(Semi-final of Commonwealth Championships – bronze medal)
Sep 30 Nordine Ait Ihya (France), National Stadium PTS
(Semi-final of Three Nations tournament)
Oct 1 David Joyce (St Michael’s, Athy), National Stadium PTS
(Final of Three Nations tournament)

2006
Jan 20 Gary McDonagh (Kilcullen), National Stadium PTS
(Semi-final of National Championships)
Jan 27 Jimmy Moore (St Francis), National Stadium L-PTS
(Final of National Championships)
Mar 19 Michael Rantso (Botswana), Exhibition Centre, Melbourne RSC 2
(First series of Commonwealth Games)
Mar 21 Simanga Shiba (Swaziland), Exhibition Centre, Melbourne L-PTS
(Quarter-final of Commonwealth Games)
Oct 15 Lukasz Maszczyk (Poland), Temperance Hall, Loughrea L-PTS

2007
Jan 27 Gary McDonagh (Kilcullen), National Stadium PTS
(Semi-final of National Championships)
Feb 2 Jimmy Moore (St Francis), National Stadium PTS
(Final of National Championships)
Mar 9 Redouane Asloum (France), Dom Sportova, Zagreb L-PTS
(Semi-final of Zlatko Hrbic memorial tournament – bronze medal)
June 20 Nordine Oubaali (France), National Stadium L-RSC 2
(Quarter-final of European Union Championships)
July 26 Hassan Fikiri (Tanzania), Olympia, Liverpool RSC 3
(Semi-final of Commonwealth Championships)
July 28 Nanao Singh (India), Olympia, Liverpool PTS
(Final of Commonwealth Championships – gold medal)
Aug 23 Nordine Oubaali (France), Wittenhofen, Heidelberg L-PTS
Aug 24 Redouane Asloum (France), Wittenhofen, Heidelberg PTS
(Above two bouts in round robin tournament)
Oct 25 Jon Kuk Chol (North Korea), University of Illinois, Chicago PTS
(First series of World Championships)
Oct 28 Sadeg Farajzadeh (Iran), University of Illinois, Chicago RSC 3
(Second series of World Championships)
Oct 31 Kenji Ohkubo (Japan), University of Illinois, Chicago PTS
(Third series of World Championships)
Nov 1 Zou Shiming (China), University of Illinois, Chicago L-PTS
(Quarter-final of World Championships – qualified for Olympic
Games; Shiming went on to win gold medal)

2008
Jan 11 Jimmy Moore (St Francis), National Stadium RSC 4
(Final of National Championships)
May 15 Nordine Oubaali (France), St Quentin L-PTS
(Semi-final of Coupe des Nations – silver medal)
June 21 Pal Bedak (Hungary), Cetniewo L-PTS
(Final of European Union Championships – silver medal)
Aug 16 Jose Meza (Ecuador), Workers Indoor Arena, Beijing PTS
(First series of Olympic Games)
Aug 19 Lukasz Maszczyk (Poland), Workers Indoor Arena, Beijing PTS
(Quarter-final of Olympic Games)
Aug 22 Zou Shiming (China), Workers Indoor Arena, Beijing L-PTS
(Semi-final of Olympic Games – bronze medal; Shiming went on to win gold medal)

2009
Feb 20 Final of National Championships, National Stadium W/O
Feb 27 Louie Byrd (United States), National Stadium PTS
(International: Ireland won 9-3)
Mar 1 Louie Byrd (United States), Arch Centre, Athy PTS
(International: Ireland won 8-2)
Mar 21 Jim Linden (Star, Belfast), National Stadium PTS
Apr 17 Nadir Bahishan (Pakistan), Ahmet Comert Sport Hall, Istanbul PTS
(Quarter-final of Ahmet Comert multi-nations tournament)
Apr 18 Rasul Djurayev (Uzbekistan), Ahmet Comert Sport Hall, Istanbul PTS
(Semi-final of Ahmet Comert multi-nations tournament)
Apr 19 Forced to concede walkover to Ferhat Pehlivan (Turkey) in final due to injury – silver medal)
July 31 Alisher Mahmudov (Uzbekistan), National Stadium PTS
Aug 1 Tommy Stubbs (England), National Stadium PTS
(Above two bouts in Round Robin tournament)
Sep 5 Peter Mungai (Kenya), Mediolanum Forum, Milan L-PTS
(First series of World Championships)

2010
Mar 5 Jimmy Moore (St Francis), National Stadium PTS
(Final of National Championships)
Mar 14 Alex Ferramosca (Italy), Donegal Celtic, Belfast PTS
(International: Ireland won 4-1)
June 5 Istvan Lakatos (Hungary), Sports Palace, Moscow PTS
(First series of European Championships)
June 9 Tommy Stubbs (England), Sports Palace, Moscow PTS
(Quarter-final of European Championships)
June 11 Kelvin de la Nieve (Spain), Sports Palace, Moscow PTS
(Semi-final of European Championships)
June 12 Elvin Mamishzade (Azerbaijan), Sports Palace, Moscow PTS
(Final of European Championships – gold medal)
Oct 7 Iain Butcher (Scotland), Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi PTS
(First series of Commonwealth Games)
Oct 9 Andrew Maloney (Australia), Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi PTS
(Quarter-final of Commonwealth Games)
Oct 11 Amandeep Singh (India), Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi PTS
(Semi-final of Commonwealth Games)
Oct 13 Japhet Uutoni (Namibia), Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi PTS
(Final of Commonwealth Games – gold medal)

2011
Feb 25 Evan Metcalfe (Crumlin), National Stadium PTS
(Final of National Championships)
Oct 3 Mark Barriga (Philippines), Heydar Aliyev Complex, Baku L-PTS
(First series of World Championships)

2012
Feb 3 Hugh Myers (Ryston), National Stadium PTS
(Final of National Championships)
Mar 15 Wu Zhonglin (China), Halle PTS
(Quarter-final of Chemistry Cup tournament)
Mar 16 Hamza Touba (Germany), Halle L-PTS
(Semi-final of Chemistry Cup tournament)
Apr 17 Istvan Ungvari (Hungary), Trabzon RSC 2
(First series of Olympic qualifying tournament)
Apr 18 Stefan Caslarov (Romania), Trabzon PTS
(Quarter-final of Olympic qualifying tournament)
Apr 20 Ferhat Pehlivan (Turkey), Trabzon L-PTS
(Semi-final of Olympic qualifying tournament – bronze medal, qualified for the Olympics)
June 8 Abdelali Darra (Morocco), Berck-sur-Mer PTS
(Four Nations tournament)
Aug 4 Thomas Essomba (Cameroon), ExCel Arena, London PTS
(First series of Olympic Games)
Aug 8 Laishram Devender Singh (India), ExCel Arena, PTS
(Quarter-final of Olympic Games)
Aug 10 Zou Shiming (China), ExCel Arena, London L-PTS
(Semi-final of Olympic Games – bronze medal; beaten on countback, Shiming went on to win gold for second successive time)

2013
Mar 13 Norbert Kalucza (Hungary), Stribrniky Sports Hall, Usti PTS
(First series of Grand Prix tournament)
Mar 14 Ilyas Suleymanov (Kazakhstan), Stribrniky Sports Hall, Usti L-RSC 3
(Quarter-final of Grand Prix tournament; injured)
May 3 Dylan Beccu (France), Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork RSC 2
(International: Ireland won 10-0)
May 5 Samuel Kistohurry (France), National Stadium PTS
(International: Ireland won 5-3)
June 4 Ashley Williams (Wales), Palace of Sports, Minsk PTS
(First series of European Championships)
June 5 Istvan Ungvari (Hungary), Palace of Sports, Minsk PTS
(Quarter-final of European Championships)
June 7 Salman Alizade (Azerbaijan), Palace of Sports, Minsk PTS
(Semi-final of European Championships)
June 9 Forced to concede walkover to David Ayrapetyan (Russia) due to injury
(Final of European Championships – silver medal)
Aug 20 Blie Konki (France), Berck-sur-Mer PTS
(Semi-final of Three Nations tournament)
Aug 31 Maciej Jozwik (Poland), Berck-sur-Mer PTS
(Final of Three Nations tournament – gold medal)
Oct 18 Milos Baltic (Serbia), Baluan Sports Palace, Almaty PTS
(First series of World Championships)
Oct 22 Simon Mulinge (Kenya), Baluan Sports Palace, Almaty RSC 1
(Second series of World Championships)
Oct 23 Jasurbek Latipov (Uzbekistan), Baluan Sports Palace, Almaty L-PTS
(Quarter-final of World Championships)

2014
Feb 28 Blaine Dobbins (St Joseph’s, Derry), National Stadium PTS
(Semi-final of Irish Championships)
Mar 7 Hugh Myres (Ryston, Newbridge), National Stadium PTS
(Final of Irish Championships)
Mar 12 Mohamed Flissi (Algeria), Algeirs L-PTS
(World Series of Boxing)
July 27 Hamadi Furahisha (Tanzania), Exhibition Centre, Glasgow RSC 3
(Second series of Commonwealth Games; bye in first series)
July 30 Charles Keama (Papua New Guinea), Exhibition Centre, Glasgow RSC 3
(Quarter-final of Commonwealth Games)
Aug 1 Fazil Juma Kaggwa (Uganda), Exhibition Centre, Glasgow PTS
(Semi-final of Commonwealth Games)
Aug 2 Laishran Devender Singh (India), Exhibition Centre, Glasgow PTS
(Final of Commonwealth Games – gold medal)
Dec 6 Adam Courtney (St Mary’s), St Joseph’s Hall, Wexford PTS

2015
Jan 17 Magomed Ibiyev (Russia), Baku PTS
(World Series of Boxing)
Jan 31 Jantony Ortiz (Puerto Rico), Palermo PTS
(World Series of Boxing)
Feb 13 Dawid Jagodzinski (Poland), Konin PTS
(World Series of Boxing)
Feb 28 Temirtas Zhusupov (Kazakhstan), Almaty PTS
(World Series of Boxing)
Mar 14 Melik Elliston (USA), Roseto degli Abruzzi RSC 4
(World Series of Boxing)
Mar 28 Junior Zarate (Argentina), Milan PTS
(World Series of Boxing)
Apr 18 Joel Finol (Venezuela), Maiquetia PTS
(World Series of Boxing)

2016
May 20 Gabriel Escobar (Spain), Kaunas PTS
(Semi-final of Algirdas Socikas tournament)
May 21 Martin Molina (Spain), Kaunas PTS
(Final of Algirdas Socikas tournament – gold medal)
Aug 8 Samuel Cormona (Spain), Rio de Janeiro L-PTS
(Second series of Olympic Games; bye in first)

Paddy Barnes (blue) v Samuel Carmona.

Irish captain Paddy Barnes bowed out of the Rio Olympics on a shock split decision to Spain’s Samuel Carmona today.

The final verdict read 29-28,29-29, 28-29 to the unheralded Madrid orthodox after a 49kg war of attrition, with the Canadian and Uzbek judges leaning toward Spain and China opting for Ireland.

The 29-year-old Belfast light-fly lost the first round on two cards, but, employing a higher guard from the start of the frame, edged the second on two cards to leave it all square and all to play for going into the last round.

Barnes, who found the target with a massive right in the third, appeared to have done enough to take that frame and the decision, but the tough 20-year-old Spaniard, who was hooking well throughout the contest, finishing strong with Barnes visibly tiring.

It was a difficult one to call for the judges. Both men, particularly in the second round, went toe-to-toe and battled it out. Neither backed off from some brutal exchanges.

Barnes’ shots were cleaner and his combinations had more fluency but anytime he was getting on top Carmona responded with big shots off both hands and impressed with uppercuts in most of the close exchanges.

Barnes, a two-time Olympic bronze medallist, signalled that his days in the light-fly division are over.

He said:“To be honest I shouldn’t even be fighting at this weight. It’s so hard to get down to it.In the second round I had nothing left, I had absolutely nothing left to give.

“I don’t know where I got the energy from to throw as many punches as I did. That’s just the way it goes. I genuinely thought I was coming away with the gold medal.

“This morning will the last time I’ll make 49kg. It’s just too hard, added Barnes, who was brutally honest about himself in his assessment.

“Even If I had won, the next fight I would have got hammered again because I have no energy. Just as well I got beaten because I would have been embarrassed next time.”

David Oliver Joyce, who won yesterday, will be in action tomorrow versus Azeri lightweight Albert Selimov,who won AIBA World Elite gold for Russia in Chicago in 2007.