The boys are back! Belfast duo Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan secure their places at Rio Olympics

Did we ever doubt them?

Irish Olympic heroes Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan are on track to add to their medal collections after securing their places at the Rio Games next summer. The Belfast boxers were in action in the World Series of Boxing in Venezuela and both did enough to book their places to Brazil. Barnes maintained his 100 per cent record in the competition with a split decision victory over local fighter Finol Rivas, with Barnes having his opponent on the mat in the first round en route to a 49-45, 49-45, 47-48 verdict. https://twitter.com/Ciaran_Gally/status/589589931892338688 https://twitter.com/paddyb_ireland/status/589622729617321985 For Barnes, twice a bronze medallist at light flyweight, the win means he has the chance to win a remarkable third Olympic medal, while bantamweight Conlan will be hoping to improve upon his bronze in London. Conlan, fighting for Italia Thunder, had a comfortable victory over Jose Diaz but was only certain of his place on the plane to Rio after a surprise defeat for Magomed Gurbanov of Azerbaijan. https://twitter.com/Mindeporte/status/589602066613567489 https://twitter.com/KevooByrne/status/589603742493749248 And Conlan admitted he was considering pulling out of his bout until Gurbanov's shock defeat. https://twitter.com/mickconlan11/status/589619916006891520 https://twitter.com/mickconlan11/status/589620334380343296 https://twitter.com/mickconlan11/status/589637768483098624 https://twitter.com/jay_quigley/status/589604118332706816