Fightin’ Ulstermen Barnes, McCarthy Win In Kazakhstan

Belfast duo Paddy Barnes and Tommy McCarthy advanced to the last-16 of the 17th AIBA World Men’s Elite Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan today.

But 2011 European Elite champion Ray Moylette bowed out after dropping a unanimous decision to Ermek Sakenov of Kyrgyzstan in the light-welter class.

No. 5 seed Barnes, who has moved up from light-fly to fly for Almaty, impressed on his 52kg World Championships debut with a unanimous decision over Milos Baltic of Serbia.

McCarthy was involved in a hard-punching heavyweight duel with Canada’s Samir El Mais, the Irish Elite champion earning a majority decision over the No. 10 seed and 2013 Pan American bronze medalist.