BoxRec

MTK Global is delighted to announce a return to the Ulster Hall in Belfast for a huge #MTKFightNight featuring a high-stakes flyweight showdown between Jay Harris and three-time Irish Olympian Paddy Barnes.

The bill will take place on October 11 live on ESPN+ in association with Top Rank. This is the latest world-class card to take place at the venue after three action-packed MTK Fight Night events at the Ulster Hall earlier this year.



Unbeaten Harris (16-0, 8 KOs) picked up the biggest win of his career back in June, where he defeated world title challenger Angel Moreno to win the European flyweight title, and he wants to build on that momentum.

Harris said: “I’m really excited to be fighting Paddy Barnes. I think our styles will make one hell of a fight. I’m especially really looking forward to it after seeing the last Belfast show because the atmosphere was amazing and I can’t wait for it.

“These are the types of fights I want to be In and to show what I’m about. It’s great to be live on a brilliant platform like ESPN+ again as well because it’s another chance to build a fan base in the USA and showcase my ability.”

Barnes (6-2, 1 KO) returned to winning ways in style earlier this month with a dominant victory over Joel Sanchez on the huge Feile an Phobail event at Falls Park, and he’s thrilled to be taking on Harris.

Barnes said: “I can’t wait for this fight. It will be a great exciting bout because Harris is an aggressive fighter like myself so I already know he will be in my face and I wont have to go looking for him which suits me.

“It is good it’s in Belfast as the fans wont have to travel far, but we are both experienced fighters so it doesn’t matter where it is. It’s going to be a brilliant fight.

“After I fought on ESPN+ in New York, even though I lost, I gained a few thousand American fans as they loved watching me fight. They would message me asking me when I’m fighting next, so I’m sure they will tune in again.”

Promoter Lee Eaton added: “We’re delighted to be returning to the Ulster Hall in Belfast for another fantastic show. The Belfast fans are amazing and they always make our events ones to remember.

“So far this year at the Ulster Hall we’ve seen the incredible Fight of the Year between Steven Ward and Liam Conroy, the return of former world champion Ryan Burnett, and the fantastic battle between Luke Keeler and Conrad Cummings.

“We also saw how incredible the Belfast fans are at our recent sold out Feile an Phobail event, and we’re expecting another brilliant event in October.

“Jay Harris vs. Paddy Barnes is a superb fight with big rewards on offer to the winner, and there will be even more great fights announced.”

Man I'm slipping, had no idea Barnes had that second loss

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑14 Aug 2019, 17:52 Man I'm slipping, had no idea Barnes had that second loss

Yeah he got battered on undercard of Conlan- looked wee boy compared to opponent who beat him convincingly.

I thought Barnes said he was moving down to Light Flyweight after losing in the States, either way Harris should beat him comfortably enough

For an Olympian, he has struggled as a pro. Got a world title shot early and folded.

Comfortable win for Harris

Harris wins clearly. To big, to strong and to fresh.

Jay harris is a qaulity fighter, when the bell went to end our fight i felt like doing a cartwheel to celebrate he was battering me

Terry Flanagan joins October 11th ESPN+ card in Ulster Hall

After an 0-2 2018 and bounce-back victory over Jonas Segu in July, former WBO lightweight champion Terry Flanagan is set for a quick turnaround, joining the October 11th Top Rank on ESPN+ card headlined by Jay Harris vs. Paddy Barnes. The 30-year-old Lancashire man does not yet have an opponent, and seeing as we’re just over a month out, don’t expect anyone significantly more intriguing than Segu.

https://www.badlefthook.com/2019/9/3/20 ... g-top-rank

It's unfortunate, sometimes a good amateur will just not get anything done at pro.

Paddy is beautiful boxer on his day. He left to late in my eyes to turn pro . And he doesn't look hungry for it think Harris on points hope IAM wrong

I really rate Harris, he's a tough fighter who can box and fight, he chose to fight it out with Moreno to win the title, could've probably made things easier for himself if he tried to outbox him but still won every round, really good performance and he has a terrific engine

I follow Barnes on twitter and he comes across a sound lad and a good laugh but ive just not rated him as a pro, ever since his debut ive never been that impressed, he isn't strong enough or doesn't carry power to stop guys walking through him, doesn't have the best defence for an amateur stand out either, I think he left it too late to turn over, the fact that he's managed to challenge for World and European titles in 9 fights is pretty remarkable, he is a tough fighter himself though

I cant see him having a lot of success here and I cant see him lasting 12 rounds with Harris who should bust him up, Harris a good body puncher as well so I'm fancying a mid to late KO via the body

handsofstone wrote: ↑06 Oct 2019, 17:28 I really rate Harris, he's a tough fighter who can box and fight, he chose to fight it out with Moreno to win the title, could've probably made things easier for himself if he tried to outbox him but still won every round, really good performance and he has a terrific engine

I follow Barnes on twitter and he comes across a sound lad and a good laugh but ive just not rated him as a pro, ever since his debut ive never been that impressed, he isn't strong enough or doesn't carry power to stop guys walking through him, doesn't have the best defence for an amateur stand out either, I think he left it too late to turn over, the fact that he's managed to challenge for World and European titles in 9 fights is pretty remarkable, he is a tough fighter himself though

I cant see him having a lot of success here and I cant see him lasting 12 rounds with Harris who should bust him up, Harris a good body puncher as well so I'm fancying a mid to late KO via the body

Good call, I think Harris around the 9th is probably the smart money here.

Barnes just doesn’t look physically resilient enough to compete at title level as a pro and he doesn’t have the punching power or the slickness to compensate for that. Harris is a bit of a buzz saw at British and quite probably European level and his work rate and hardness looks like overwhelming Barnes in the end.

If Barnes loses he’ll surely pack it you’d think? No where else to go and has probably been lucky to get the opportunities he has as quickly as they have come

fizzjambo wrote: ↑06 Oct 2019, 17:53

handsofstone wrote: ↑06 Oct 2019, 17:28 I really rate Harris, he's a tough fighter who can box and fight, he chose to fight it out with Moreno to win the title, could've probably made things easier for himself if he tried to outbox him but still won every round, really good performance and he has a terrific engine

I follow Barnes on twitter and he comes across a sound lad and a good laugh but ive just not rated him as a pro, ever since his debut ive never been that impressed, he isn't strong enough or doesn't carry power to stop guys walking through him, doesn't have the best defence for an amateur stand out either, I think he left it too late to turn over, the fact that he's managed to challenge for World and European titles in 9 fights is pretty remarkable, he is a tough fighter himself though

I cant see him having a lot of success here and I cant see him lasting 12 rounds with Harris who should bust him up, Harris a good body puncher as well so I'm fancying a mid to late KO via the body

Good call, I think Harris around the 9th is probably the smart money here.

Barnes just doesn’t look physically resilient enough to compete at title level as a pro and he doesn’t have the punching power or the slickness to compensate for that. Harris is a bit of a buzz saw at British and quite probably European level and his work rate and hardness looks like overwhelming Barnes in the end.

If Barnes loses he’ll surely pack it you’d think? No where else to go and has probably been lucky to get the opportunities he has as quickly as they have come

I thought Barnes was moving down to Light Flyweight but obviously he got this opportunity, if he's to carry on then i'd like to see him move down, he's more or less struggled in every fight

Paddy 'Tom Stalker' Barnes

Main Card (ESPN+, 3:00 pm ET)

• Swing: Seanie Duffy (2-0, 1 KO) vs Edwin Tellez (12-57-5, 6 KO), lightweights, 4 rounds

• Paddy Donovan (debut) vs Arturo Lopez (5-13-3, 0 KO), welterweights, 6 rounds

• Terry Flanagan (34-2, 14 KO) vs Michael Ansah (17-9-2, 11 KO), junior welterweights, 8 rounds

• Pierce O’Leary (debut) vs Oscar Amador (10-22, 1 KO), junior welterweights, 4 rounds

• Sean McComb (8-0, 4 KO) vs Emiliano Rodriguez (23-5, 9 KO), junior welterweights, 8 rounds

• Jay Harris (16-0, 8 KO) vs Paddy Barnes (6-2, 1 KO), flyweights, 12 rounds

Running Order

DOORS OPEN - 5.30pm
FIRST BELL - 6pm

Preliminary bouts (iFL TV)

Bout 1
Welterweight, 6 Rounds
LEWIS CROCKER (IRE, 11st) vs. OHIO KAIN IREMIREN (ENG, 10st 13lbs)

Bout 2
Lightweight, 6 Rounds
GARY CULLY (IRE, 9st 13lbs) vs. DANNY MENDOZA (NIC, 10st 1lbs)

Bout 3
Middleweight, 6 Rounds
CONRAD CUMMINGS (IRE, 11st 11lbs) vs. ADAM GRABIEC (POL, N/A)

Bout 4
Super-featherweight, 4 Rounds
RUAIRI DALTON (IRE, 9st 3lbs) vs. JOSE HERNANDEZ (NIC, 9st 1lb)

ESPN+ broadcasts begin 8pm

Bout 5
Welterweight, 6 rounds
PADDY DONOVAN (IRE, 10st 7lbs) vs. ARTURO LOPEZ (MEX, 10st 4lbs)

Bout 6
Lightweight, 8 rounds
TERRY FLANAGAN, (ENG, 9st 13lbs) vs. MICHAEL ANSAH (GHA, 9st 7lbs)

Bout 7
Super-Lightweight, 4 rounds
PIERCE O'LEARY (IRE, 10st 3lbs) vs. OSCAR AMADOR (NIC, 10st 5lbs)

Bout 8
Super-Lightweight, 8 rounds
SEAN McCOMB (IRE, 10st 1lb) vs. EMILIANO RODRIGUEZ (ARG, 9st, 13lbs 2oz)

Bout 9 - Main Event
IBF Inter-Continental Flyweight Title - 12 rounds
PADDY BARNES (IRE, 7st 13lbs 8oz) vs. JAY HARRIS (WAL, 7st 13lbs 9oz)

Bout 10 - Float
Lightweight, 4 rounds
SEANIE DUFFY (IRE, 9st 9lb 1oz) vs. EDWIN TELLEZ (NIC, 9st 5lbs)

Well, I think that's what you call the perfect debut for Paddy Donovan.

I thought with a cast of Andy Lee, Jamie Conlan and Eamon Magee in his ring walk this guy must be a bit special.

A powerful left hand to the top of the forehead and it was all over inside 1 round.

Ya Paddy beat that stiff easy

Let's hope Flannagan can ring a few changes to his style and put in an impressive display against this Ghanaian guy.

no one watching the Sky/DAZN Italy stuff ?

Good first fight

Impressive performance from Harris. Paddy gave it his all but was badly out gunned.