Olympic fighter Paddy Barnes, 21, is today going toe-to-toe with Chinese world champion Zou Shiming in an Olympic semi-final.

The Ardoyne man beat Poland's Lukasz Maszcyk in a stunning bout to reach today’s semi-final of the light flyweight division, which has guaranteed him at least a bronze medal.

It is going to be hard fighting the world champion in his own backyard, but it's what Paddy wanted

And while he can face the toughest boxers in the world, Paddy jokes on his Bebo site he is not just afraid of spiders, he is scared when his girlfriend of almost five years, Mari, gets angry.

The boxer, who trains at the renowned Holy Family Club in Belfast, also reveals his fear of sharks on the site.

And he admits that he is a “secret Girls Aloud fan”.

Paddy has also received endless messages of support on his site ahead of the big fight today.

Well-wishers from across the country have asked him to bring back the gold to Belfast.

And speaking from Beijing earlier this week Paddy's proud father, Paddy Senior, said that not even the intimidating roar of a stadium full of loyal Chinese supporters would be able to contain their excitement as the 21-year-old lives out his dream.

“When he qualified he said to me that the one fight he wanted was Shiming in front of his home crowd, and now it's happening. I am just so proud. How could I not be?

“I am sure everybody back home is very happy.”

It's the first medal that Ireland has won and the first Irish boxing medal in 16 years.

“I always knew he would make it to the Olympics and I always knew he was something special,” his father said.

“I think he has a great chance.

“It is going to be hard fighting the world champion in his own backyard, but it's what Paddy wanted.”

Mentor Gerry Storey, the legendary Irish boxing coach who has produced four other Olympic medallists, said he always knew the north Belfast lad would get this far.

“I was very confident when he went out that he would do well," Gerry said.

“Even though the Polish guy had beaten him before, it did not surprise me when he won.

“Paddy has been working on his tactics so when he won 11-5, it shows you that he has been going OK,” said Gerry.

“I am absolutely proud of him.

“He's the fifth individual kid from the Holy Family Club to win an Olympic medal — it's the icing on the cake.”

Paddy Barnes v Zou Shiming (China) light-flyweight (12.00 GMT)

Billy Walsh said of Zou at the World Championships in Chicago, that "you'd want a fistful of pebbles to hit this guy." Beat Barnes comprehensively on that occasion, but then he pretty much demolished everyone in Chicago.

A bronze medalist at the Athens Games, Zou has since won two world titles and will have huge and partisan support in the Workers' Gymnasium. Yet there were some signs in the earlier rounds that he might be prone to the pressure of fighting in front of his own.

Barnes is a good deal more tactically astute than generally recognised. Also armed with a strong, independent mind. Has overwhelmed his two opponents to date on sheer punching volume. But he needs to get close to Zou and nullify the Chinese fighter's reach advantage. If Barnes does and the scoring stays tight for long enough, Zou just may panic.