Paddy Barnes has had his eye on the Edwards brothers for a while now.
Barnes remains focused on becoming a world champion before he reaches ten fights as a professional and while his first shot at the WBC world flyweight title didn’t go according to plan, he is confident that it’s only a matter of time before he gets the belt around his waist.
Then-WBC champ Cristofer Rosales stopped Barnes at Windsor Park last August but England’s Charlie Edwards now holds the title after claiming a unanimous decision over Rosales in London before Christmas.
Edwards, like Barnes, is represented by MTK Global but both fighters are signed to rival promoters. Edwards claims that he floated Barnes’ name out there as a potential first defence but heard nothing back.
“I did speak to my management team and said if Paddy Barnes wants it, because it’s my voluntary, I said let’s make it happen,” Edwards said during a recent interview.
Paddy Barnes Vs Charlie Edwards Any one
And is not a British and Irish clash🤨
🇮🇪🇬🇧🇮🇪🇬🇧🇮🇪🇬🇧🇮🇪🇬🇧🇮🇪🇬🇧🇮🇪🇬🇧@paddyb_ireland @CEdwardsBoxing pic.twitter.com/mCDzhv8aiJ— BoxingTribeUK (@BoxingTribeUK) February 6, 2019
“Paddy who? Paddy who? I don’t know where his head is at. He’s calling me out but then all this happens.
“I hope the fight does happen, whether it’s for me or for Sunny (Edwards’ brother) because it’s a British showdown. Everyone loves a British fight, and it could be a fight that everyone wants to see.
“Im sure it will happen down the line, whether it’s me or whether it’s Sunny. I’ve got no qualms in beating him. It would be a long time coming with him being around the amateur scene getting all the success.”
As expected, Barnes took umbrage with Edwards’ suggestion that a fight against Ireland’s three-time Olympian would be considered “a British showdown.”
Barnes was selected as Ireland’s flag-bearer for the 2016 Olympics, proudly speaks his native tongue and his nickname is ‘The Leprechaun’ so basically, you don’t get any more Irish than him and he didn’t hesitate to correct Edwards.
Paddy who, 😂😂 your team is MY team and no chance you mentioned my name! By the way Charlie, I'm IRISH so it wouldn't be a "British showdown" https://t.co/zQCVaf9XkS
— Paddy Barnes OLY (@paddyb_ireland) February 6, 2019
Barnes has been out of action since his defeat in Belfast but he was scheduled to fight on Frank Warren’s December card in Manchester, however his bout was the late float on the night and the fact that the card ran late meant that he never got the chance to make it to the ring.
The 31-year-old is expected to return on St. Patrick’s Day, when he is set to make his US debut against American Oscar Mojica at Madison Square Garden on the card which will be headlined by fellow Belfast man, Michael Conlan
Barnes has had an issue with Edwards ever since he claimed that Edwards spread a rumour that he pulled out of the 2015 European Games in Baku after sparring the Englishman.
With Edwards set to defend his belt against Angel Moreno a week after Barnes’ next outing, the timing could be perfect for a summer title fight that is most definitely Ireland vs. England.
