One of Ireland’s most decorated ever amateur boxers, Paddy Barnes, made his professional debut on Saturday night at the Titanic Exhibition Centre in Belfast but it probably didn’t go exactly how he envisioned it would.
Yes, fans at the arena gave Barnes a fantastic ovation when he appeared at the top of the walkway.
Here's a @paddyb_ireland on the way to the ring to make his long awaited professional debut tonight! Pic: @presseyephoto pic.twitter.com/kxOcxMMKW6
— Inpho Photography (@Inphosports) November 5, 2016
Great atmosphere for @paddyb_ireland debut
— Carl Frampton MBE (@RealCFrampton) November 5, 2016
Yes, the three-time Olympian and two-time bronze medallist got the win. Yes, he completed the job done inside the distance.
However, he did so in rather bizarre fashion.
Barnes started the flyweight bout positively, but it wasn’t long before his clingy Bulgarian opponent, Stefan Slavchev, began to frustrate him and the fans with excessive holding. This continued until the fourth round, when Slavchev was disqualified for hoisting Barnes over his head like a fairy tale maiden that needed rescuing from a besieged castle.
One things for sure @paddyb_ireland pro career is going to be eventful #homecoming pic.twitter.com/MH9un3AS1p
— Stephen Kearns (@cousin23) November 5, 2016
@paddyb_ireland wins by fireman's lift, wtf was ur man at… Well done paddy
— Dougal (@D_ougal) November 5, 2016
To be fair, Paddy seemed to be enjoying himself.
Bizarre ending! Paddy Barnes is lifted by Stefan Slavchev in the fourth round, resulting in the stoppage of their flyweight bout! pic.twitter.com/v8WyhupS17
— sportsfile (@sportsfile) November 5, 2016
@paddyb_ireland is actually laughing, hes lovin it! hahaha https://t.co/KNUo9Vgjik
— Bugsy Bradshaw 🍀 (@BugsyBradshaw1) November 5, 2016
Love how @paddyb_ireland is in knots laughing…. Laughing all the way home to the winners circle!! https://t.co/VAglWyeU03
— Just Ruth (@RuthyMcDonagh) November 5, 2016
Anyway, rather unsurprisingly, it was Slavchev’s heroics that garnered most of the attention in the Twittersphere.
.@paddyb_ireland boxed the head of his first pro opponent – then your man tried this! Onwards and Upwards wee Paddy! #futureworldchamp pic.twitter.com/nPDdZUpOBR
— Cllr Conor Maskey – Wash Your Hands! (@conormaskey) November 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/mattinho/status/795036516120690688
The end of the Paddy Barnes fight for people asking. pic.twitter.com/jcAFaqjci7
— Nameless and shameless (@NumbTabestry) November 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/russel13nazli/status/795030122374037504
@paddyb_ireland well done and congratulations paddy. That clown belongs in the circus #sideshowbob #circusact #undeated #bronzepaddy
— Declan (@Decboy) November 5, 2016
@cbrowne149 @paddyb_ireland is it a bird, is it a plane, no it's @paddyb_ireland 😂😂
— chelly (@cheekychic__) November 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/SeanOg_1/status/795035079831588864
@paddyb_ireland Nothing like being swept off your feet on a Saturday night Paddy. Congrats on the win.
— Stephen Glennon (@s_glennon) November 5, 2016
@paddyb_ireland gets the ball rolling after a tough time recently. On to the next one mate. Titles coming soon
— Carl Frampton MBE (@RealCFrampton) November 5, 2016
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