Boxing:Belfast light-flyweight Paddy Barnes went out in the round of 32 at the World Boxing Championship in Azerbaijan this morning, beaten 20-12 by Mark Barriga of the Philippines. Ken Egan's heavyweight campaign also came to an abrupt halt as he was forced to retire against Cuba's Jose Larduet Gomez.
Barnes, the Olympic bronze medalist, would have been one of the favourites to contend again for a medal in Baku but shipped too many scoring punches in the opening two rounds to fall 13-8 behind.
Barnes, who missed the defence of his European title earlier this year with a hand injury, went on the offensive in a bid to claw back the deficit in the final round, but his opponent used the ring well and hit him on the counter to win the round 7-4.
Egan, fighting for the first time as a heavyweight at the world championships, was in all sorts of trouble, trailing Gomez 30-12, before he retired by his corner in the third round.
There was better news for Darren O'Neill, who survived a two-point penalty to advance to the last 16 of the 75kg category with a 15-13 win over Egypt’s Mohamad Hikal.
O’Neill, who is now just one win away from qualifying for the Olympics, led by 8-7 going into the final round but fell foul of referee Ishanguly Meretnyyazov for pushing. However, Hikal was also stripped of two points for dropping his head and O’Neill held on for a narrow win.
David Oliver Joyce is also through to the last 16 as he prevailed in his 60kg bout against Afghanistan’s Mohammad Khaiber. The Athy lightweight was a comfortable 26-13 winner and will meet Jai Bhagwan of India tomorrow with a place at the London Olympics up for grabs.