Irish 2008 Olympian Paddy Barnes bowed out of the 2007 AIBA World Championships following a 22-8 defeat to Shiming Zou of China at the University of Illinois in Chicago in the early hours of this morning.

Zou, the reigning World and Asian 48Kg champion, who won a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, took all four rounds (5-1,13-3,20-6 (22-8)) despite a brave performance from the Holy Family Belfast man.

The twenty year old Ulster man secured qualification for next years Olympics in Beijing courtesy of a 24-6 last 16 win over Kenji Ohkubo of Japan on Wednesday night.

Barnes, who has already been named as Irish Independent Sports Star of the week, (today's Irish Independent, page 65) racked up 95 points in Chicago and conceded 57. His defeat brings Irelands involvement in the 2007 World Championships to a conclusion.

There will be two final Olympic qualifying tournaments for European boxers in Italy (Pascara) and Greece (Athens) in February and April next year.

The AIBA World Championships resume today with eleven semi finals. Russia will have eight boxers
competing in the last four while China have advanced five to within two fights of gold.

Italy, who are having one of their best ever World Championships, will have four boxers involved in today's semi finals.

Meanwhile, World and three times European lightweight champion Katie Taylor will meet Canadian Katie Dunn in an exhibition bout before tomorrows (November 3rd) men's finals at the University of Illinois.

The Irish squad are due to arrive home on Sunday.



For news, live scores,draws, rankings, and results log onto www.iaba.ie www.aiba.org http://www.worldboxingchicago.org/



Irish 2007 World Championships and Olympic Qualifying Tournament Results University of Illinois Chicago


Result November 1st

48Kg: (Quarter Final) Paddy Barnes (Ireland) lost to Shiming Zou (China) 8-22


October 31st Results

48Kg: Paddy Barnes (Ireland) beat Kenji Ohkubo (Japan) 24-6
60Kg: Eric Donovan (Ireland) lost to Dominico Valentino 12-29
81Kg: Ken Egan (Ireland) lost to Marijo Sivolija (Croatia) 9-17


Results October 30th

75Kg: Darren Sutherland (Ireland) lost to Alfonso Blanco (Venezuela) 13-20
91Kg: John Sweeney (Ireland) lost to Rakhim Chakhkiev (Russia) 5-28

Results October 28th

48Kg: Paddy Barnes (Ireland) beat Sadegh Zade Faraj (Iran) RSCO3 (30-10)
60Kg: Eric Donovan (Ireland) beat Jonathan Batisa (Dominican Republic) 21-4
69Kg: Roy Sheahan (Ireland) lost to Rusian Khairov (Azerbaijan) 3-20
81Kg: Ken Egan (Ireland) beat Julio Torres Castillo (Ecuador) 16-10

Results October 27th

75Kg: Darren Sutherland (Ireland) beat Andranik Hakobyan (Armenia) 22-20
91+Kg: Cathal McMonagle (Ireland) lost to Islam Timurziev (Russia) RET1

Results October 26th

54Kg: Ryan Lindberg (Ireland) lost to McJoe Arroyo (Puerto Rico) RSCO3 (7-27)
91Kg: John Sweeney (Ireland) beat Branco Srdic (Serbia) RSC4 (18-14)

Results October 25th

48Kg: Paddy Barnes (Ireland) beat Choi Jon Chuk (Peoples Republic of Korea) 33-19
51Kg: Conor Ahern (Ireland) lost to Bato-Munko Vankeyeu 15-28
60Kg: Eric Donovan (Ireland) beat Mikios Varga (Hungary) 39-22
69Kg: Roy Sheahan (Ireland) beat Sang In Han (Korea) 22-7
81Kg: Ken Egan (Ireland) beat Julius Jackson (Virgin Islands) RSCO2 (21-1)

Results October 24th

57Kg: David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) lost to Davi Souza (Brazil) 10-21
75Kg: Darren Sutherland (Ireland) beat Roy Albert Cook (Dominica) W/O

Results October 23rd

64Kg: John Joe Joyce (Ireland) lost to Gyula Kate (Hungary) 17-32.



Irish 2007 AIBA World Championships Squad by Club

48Kg: Paddy Barnes (Holy Family GG, Belfast)
51Kg: Conor Ahern (Baldoyle, Dublin)
54Kg: Ryan Lindberg (Immaculata, Belfast)
57Kg: David Oliver Joyce (St Michael's Athy, Kildare)
60Kg: Eric Donovan (St Michael's Athy, Kildare)
64Kg: John Joe Joyce (St Michael's Athy, Kildare)
69Kg: Roy Sheahan (St Michael's Athy, Kildare)
75Kg: Darren Sutherland (St Saviours OBA, Dublin)
81Kg: Ken Egan (Neilstown, Dublin)
91Kg: John Sweeney (Dungloe, Donegal)
91+Kg: Cathal McMonagle (Holy Trinity, Belfast)

Irish 2007 AIBA World Championships Management

Performance Director: Gary Keegan
Coaches: Billy Walsh,Zuar Antia, Jim Moore
Team Manager: Jim Walsh
Physio: Scott Murphy
Performance Analysis: Alan Swanton
Strength and Conditioning: John Cleary
R&J: Eugene O'Kane.




Bernard O'Neill
Public Relations Officer
Irish Amateur Boxing Association
Ph: 086 057 9558
Fax: 061 408627
bernard.oneill@oceanfree.net
www.iaba.ie