Does a crazy boxing moments of the year award exist? Well okay, not an official one at least. But if there was one, this bizarre incident would have to be in the running for 2016.
Irishman Paddy Barnes won his professional boxing debut this past weekend in front of a partisan crowd in his hometown of Belfast.
In a scrappy first fight in the paid ranks, the bout was ended all of a sudden when his opponent Stefan Slavchev from Bulgaria decided to pick Barnes up above his head in some sort of WWE / fireman’s lift maneuver.
Prompting the referee to disqualify him on the spot and give Barnes the win. Here’s the moment it happened:
(Hat tip to @willygrattan on Twitter):
Paddy Barnes wins by firemans lift! That’s a first! pic.twitter.com/EzA4YhXPWu
— Willy G Tattoo (@willygrattan) November 5, 2016
Now there’s something you don’t see everyday in boxing. Surely a contender in the unofficial crazy boxing moments of 2016 running.
From a boxing perspective, Barnes marches on and is expected to challenge for a world title relatively early in his pro career if he keeps winning, as he has said he wants to be fast tracked in the professional game given the significant amateur career he had while boxing for Ireland.
(Image source and credit: Paddy Barnes Twitter)
