The Belfast duo of Paddy Barnes and Tommy McCarthy came through their bouts at the 2013 AIBAWorld Boxing Championships in Kazakhstan on Friday, but the campaign of Mayo's Ray Moylette ended after a defeat in the light welterweight division.
Fifth seed Barnes negotiated his first fight at the event with a unanimous points victory over Serbia's Milos Baltic to move into the last 16.
Having moved up to flyweight, Barnes won all three rounds 29-28 29-28 30-27. “It was the first time without the headgear on and it felt really, really strange,” said Barnes. “I’m happy to get the three rounds in and we’ll push on from here.”
Heavyweight McCarthy came through a tough scrap with Canada’s Samir ElMais, winning on a split decision from the three judges and move into the last 16.
McCarthy lost the first round and won the second before taking the decision on all three judges’ cards in the final round, with El-Mais receiving a warning.
“I feel brilliant, I knew I had more ability but I knew he was going to be a workhorse, so I had to work hard for it,” said McCarthy. “It’s my first seniors at the worlds, so I feel brilliant, to win two fights.”
Light welterweight Moylette went down to a unanimous decision against Kyrgyzstan’s Ermek Sakenov.
