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Belfast boxer Paddy Barnes says: 'They can keep bronze medal'
Saturday, 23 August 2008
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Heartbroken Paddy Barnes bagged an Olympic medal yesterday after a die-hard performance which failed to see him score a single point, only to declare: "They can keep their bronze medal".
Family and friends of the fighter called the result "a disgrace" after China's Zou Shiming notched up 15 points on the judges' scorecards over four intensely-contested two-minute rounds.
Barnes (21) put in a tireless performance, earning him praise from boxing pundits, but the light flyweight could not hide his own disgust after the final bell. He even told the Olympic committee to "keep their bronze medal".
Paddy's brother Michael (18) watched the fight surrounded by family at the Glen Park Inn near west Belfast's Crumlin road.
He said: "The result is a disgrace, there were four Chinese judges and they gave everything to their fighter and nothing to Paddy. I am pure raging.
"His effort was second to none and he scored points which weren't awarded to him.
"He will overcome this and be back stronger. He's got the mentality to go on to better things.
"Words can't describe how proud of him I am, but the way the fight was scored was disgusting and hard to watch."
Barnes was eight points down by the end of the second round despite pressing Shiming, but the Chinese fighter's slick footwork and counter-punching was too much.
His uncle, Conor Barnes (35) said: "He was fighting one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world and he had a great chance.
"If he had got off to a better start . . . things may have been different.
"It is a real shame he didn't score. I thought there were at least four or five points which he should have got, but he is coming home with the bronze medal and he has done Ireland proud.
"He is still our hero and we want to get him home . . . there is a big party waiting for him."
Paddy's girlfriend Mari Burns (21), returned home from Beijing fifteen minutes before the fight started. She said: "Being in Beijing was amazing. The support for Paddy was incredible.
"It was hard to see him so emotional after the fight. But everyone saw that he did not stop, he did not tire and he did not give up."
Paddy's cousin Michael Noble (18) said: "I am disappointed that he didn't score, but we are very pleased with the bronze.
"By the end of the fight, he was going for the knock-out because that's all he could hope for. He showed the guts he has.
"Paddy has competed in the biggest and the best sporting event in the world . . . Now it is all about London in 2012.
Declan Noble (16) said: "To get to the semi-final of the Olympics is a great achievement. I thought he would have got to the final, but the judges seemed slightly biased towards his opponent.
"It was hard to see him fight and watch no points go up on the board, but he will come back stronger from the experience."
And the Olympic boxer's grandmother Phyllis said: "He did well because he was fighting a champion boxer.
"I know nothing about boxing, but I thought he should have had a few points. He worked very hard these last years to get where he is.
"He'll be on the phone later today and I'll tell him how proud I am of him."
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Comments
25 Comments
I dont think that was write what was done to paddy. You should have been fair with the both of them. I'm a boxer myself and I'm not happy?? sorry
Posted by Danielle | 07.09.08, 17:44 GMT
for all you who have critised paddy barnes!!!!!! you had to be in beijing to fully understand why he was complaining!!! did you know that after the boxing match that there was a press conference held because of the lack of points!!!! paddy knows simming beat him but not 15- 0, what would you do getting out of the ring after that and reporters shoving mikes in your face!!!!! so we are all entitled to our comments but think about the other side of them before you open your mouth!!!! and find out abit of boxing!!!!
Posted by rebecca | 26.08.08, 00:02 GMT
Alwyn, try posting comments on things you have actually viewed!
Well done Paddy, I would have been raging too>judging was an absolute shambles!!!
Posted by Michael Collins | 25.08.08, 12:10 GMT
I think the judging at the boxing matches was a complete fiasco. Kenny Egan didn't get credit for about 5 points and other matches I watched were just as badly scored. The olympic commitee must review the tapes and correct the situation for the next olympics.
Posted by John Paterson | 24.08.08, 20:35 GMT
I think tghe judging at the boxing matches was a complete fiasco. Kenny Egan didn't get credit for about 5 points and other matches I watched were just as badly scored. The olympic commitee must review the tapes and correct the situation for the next olympics.
Posted by John Paterson | 24.08.08, 20:32 GMT
If the judging was unfair then little attention would have been paid to it if Paddy Barnes had not "acted so unprofessional".
It remains to be seen whether it was the Paddy Barnes or the event judges who acted in an unprofessional manner.
I don't know what to think because I did not see the fight so perhaps "the Tele" could post it here for folks like me?
Alwyn
Posted by Alwyn | 24.08.08, 16:30 GMT
The judges at most events have been disgraceful same thing happened with Kenny Egan.
Posted by Steve | 24.08.08, 12:44 GMT
Name Country Function
SERVIDE Roberto ARG Referee
ROSE Wayne AUS Judge 1
APA Enrico ITA Judge 2
CHIASSON Pierre CAN Judge 3
KIM Jae Bong KOR Judge 4
CARBONELL Armando COL Judge 5
Were there four chinese judges? NBC.com lists none of them for that bout.
Posted by Andrew | 24.08.08, 06:40 GMT
Initially I tried to watch the Olympic boxing matches but the scoring was such an abomination that I could not morally finish watching them.
Watching the Olympic boxing scoring was as painful as listening to a moron trying to explain the special theory of relativity.
I will give the boxing referees the benefit of doubt and just say they are extremely incompetent. However, I saw this extreme incompetence in a majority of matches. It makes one wonder if there is rampant corruption in Olympic boxing
Posted by Arnold | 24.08.08, 06:36 GMT
A very bad loser he should have been happy with what he got but what does it matter he lives in united kingdom but was boxing for not the north but the south sore loser indeed any young boxers i know are happy just to win he wont go far with that attitude anyway
Posted by wilma | 24.08.08, 00:54 GMT
A very bad loser he should have been happy with what he got but what does it matter he lives in united kingdom but was boxing for not the north but the south sore loser indeed any young boxers i know are happy just to win he wont go far with that attitude anyway
Posted by wilma | 24.08.08, 00:54 GMT
DK, how can you say Barnes will make it if he turns professional! Judging an amateur boxer! don’t you know that boxing involves Continuous development of skills through experience so I have no doubt that paddy has every chance of being a successful boxer if turned professional, getting this far in the Olympics is surely a positive experience!
Though not scoring a point in his semi-final fight was somewhat controversial!
Posted by Owen | 23.08.08, 19:38 GMT
kerry how can you say barnes will make it knowwhere is he turns professional! judging an amature boxer! dont you know that boxing involves Continuous development of skills through experience so i have no doubt that paddy has every chance of being a successful boxer if turned professional, getting this far in the olympics is surely a positive experience!
Though not scoring a point in his semi-final fight was somewhat Controversial!
Posted by Owen | 23.08.08, 19:30 GMT
Not a very good loser.Needs to learn a thing or two.
Posted by Paul | 23.08.08, 18:42 GMT
You can take the man out of Belfast but you can’t Belfast out of the man, it’s a pity that he didn’t meet, China's Zou Shiming in the first round then he wouldn’t have had the chance to cry foul of the Olympic spirit. It’s not about winning it’s about taking part if he wants a role model look no further than Eric Liddell.
Posted by B. Corr | 23.08.08, 18:31 GMT
The kid should have got a few points from the judges,i have watched boxing for 50 years so i should know something of the scoring but he was in the end well beaten by a much superior boxer no matter who did the judging.
Posted by Jim Fallon | 23.08.08, 18:26 GMT
Paddy gave a good effort, was aggressive and should have been awarded points for some right hand blows. But, like many other boxers he should have used his left hand a lot more. It seems the most basic punch - the left jab has been forgotten. The Olympics boxing in general was very disappointing - more street fighting and clinching than boxing - and the judging was a disgrace.
Posted by Brian | 23.08.08, 16:24 GMT
Paddy needs to stop spitting his dummy out, yes he should have scored a couple of points but he was easily beaten by Shimizing Zou. I agree that he should have his view heard but telling the olympic officals 'They can keep bronze medal' is very unprofessional.
Posted by Ryan | 23.08.08, 15:26 GMT
Sore loser. He was even lucky to get a bronze. Don't think we will see him at the London Olympics or make it anywhere if he turns professional. There are better boxers out there.
Posted by DK | 23.08.08, 15:11 GMT
Well done Paddy. I don't feel all the judges should've been from the host country.
Posted by Kerry | 23.08.08, 12:26 GMT
25 Comments