By Elliot Foster

Paddy Barnes made a blistering start to his professional career.

The three-time Olympian, who has won two medals at the Games, decided to turn professional after being beaten in the round of 16 in Rio this past summer.

Barnes, 29, will compete in the flyweight division and had a star-like build-up to his bow in the paid code.

He stepped into the ring at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, exclusively live on BoxNation, as the co-headliner to Jamie Conlan’s marking time fight against David Koos before he fights in a final eliminator for the WBO super-flyweight belt.

Ulsterman Barnes, the WSB champion in 2015, was in control and looked seasoned from the off as he boxed Stefan Slavchev, a man well known on these shores, in his opener.

Slavchev was last in the UK in his last outing when he extended Liverpool’s Brandon Daord the distance over four on October 7 and has previously been in with ex-bantamweight European champion Ryan Farrag.

he clash wasn’t expected to go the distance, with Barnes saying in the build-up that “someone is going to get knocked out”, and it went entirely to script.

Barnes settled incredibly rapidly, getting down to work in front of a vociferous crowd and popping away his shots to the head and body of the helpless Slavchev.

But the Bulgarian remained in there and even attempted to throw some of his own shots, causing Barnes to rush his work and get frustrated with himself as he stalked the opponent in a bid to get it over with early.

However, it went the distance, with Barnes –– who is currently experiencing some personal issues and had an underwhelming preparation for his first outing –– getting the decision by disqualification after Slavchev purposely lifted Barnes off his feet, leaving the referee with little option but to throw the import out of the ring after two minutes and five seconds of round four.

Slavchev, in defeat, is now 8-25-1 with four early.

Elsewhere on the card, Stephen Ormond got back to winning ways having suffered a shock defeat in his last outing.

The former WBO European champion was knocked out by Zoltan Szabo on October 1 in Glasgow but got back in the winning column at the first time of asking after Daniel Bazo, who was in the opposite corner, retired after the third round, citing a shoulder problem.