Paddy Barnes Wins Opening Bout

Sport Northern Ireland funded boxer Paddy Barnes is one fight away from a medal at the European Amateur Championships after winning his opening bout in Moscow on Saturday (5 June 2010).

The Olympic bronze medallist comfortably outpointed Hungarian Istvan Lakatos 12-4 and will box for another medal on Wednesday.

All five Irish boxers in action on Saturday clinched wins.

The Irish winners were Olympic silver medallist Kenny Egan, Darren O'Neill, John Joe Nevin and John Joe Joyce.

Egan squeezed past Italian Simone Fiori 3-2 while O'Neill also edged a tight verdict (4-2) against Romania's Ronald Gavril.

Nevin (54 kilos) beat Armenia's Karen Aylazyan 13-2 while Joyce (69K) edged out Moldova's Vasilii Belous 8-5.