By Terence Dooley

Paddy Barnes (5-0, 1 KO) has already made history in his boxing career after netting two Olympic medals, a bronze at the Beijing Games in 2008 and another one at London 2012, yet he believes the record books will be opened again next weekend when he meets Cristofer Rosales (27-3, 18 early) for the WBC flyweight title at Belfast’s Windsor Park next Saturday night in only his sixth professional fight.

A win for the Belfast-based Barnes would see him win a world title in double quick time and the 31-year-old, who is dubbed “The Leprechaun”, believes it is destined to be his night in front of his legion of fans. 

“I’ve been fast-tracked because of my amateur background and World Series of Boxing history,” he said when speaking to Andy Watters of the Irish News. 

He added: “That’s why I’ve been pushed on faster than usual.  I said at the start that I would win a world title within 10 fights and here I am in my sixth fight.  Coming to Belfast shouldn’t faze him, but I don’t really care if he’s fazed or not.  I have my fighting style, he has his and I know that if I do what I do best then no one’s going to beat me.”

Barnes has been out of action since posting a sixth-round KO win over Eliecer Quezada in November yet the former star amateur believes that ring rust will not be a problem when he meets his moment of destiny on a bill that also features Carl Frampton and Tyson Fury. 

He said: “It was hard to get an opponent signed up for a world title.  I still could have fought on the last Frampton show and the Mick Conlan show but I didn’t because I want to create history and win a world title in my sixth fight.”

Please send news and views to @Terryboxing.