Having carried the Irish flag at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996, Francis Barrett took his first step into professional boxing ranks last week in the Wembley Grand Hall. Successfully out pointing Mohamed Helelin on the under card of the Joe Calzaghe fight, light-welterweight Barrett, who is now 23, won the four-round contest 40-37. Barrett, who made Irish history when he became the first person from the travelling community to represent Ireland at the Olympics, has two more bouts lined up later this month and in September.

Belfast welterweight Neil Sinclair also had a win on the London bill. Climbing off the canvas in the first round, Sinclair came back to twice drop Daniel Santos for a second-round win.