Paddy Barnes [3(0)-0] thinks a fight with old rival Zou Shiming could still be on the cards. In fact he the Belfast fighter is more than willing to provide comeback opposition for the flyweight fighter who lost his World title over the weekend.

Since following Shiming into the pro ranks, Barnes has been quite vocal about his desire to fight the Chinese puncher, who defeated him in three high profile amateur fights

With what would prove a lucrative chance to get revenge in mind the two time Olympic Bronze medalist had looked to get himself in the WBO rankings hoping it would open a pathway to a clash with the Asian 36 year old.

A WBO European trinket win saw Barnes enter the rankings with the organisation at #14. A shock at weekend though as Shiming lost his belt looked to have wrecked the Cliftonville man’s roadmap.

There were suggestions Barnes might have to revert to Plan B and forget Shiming redemption when #7-ranked Japanese challenger Sho Kimura, a 10/1 underdog, knocked out the triple Olympic medalist in the eleventh round of their title clash in Shanghai and deposed the Chinese megastar of his WBO title in the process.

Barnes on the other hand sees the positives of the result and claims it may make Shiming more willing to fight him. Indeed the eager-to-progress flyweight says, if Shiming has plans to return to the game, the offer of a fight remains.

“You know what, after thinking about it he could look at me as an easy comeback fight. It’s win-win for me. If he had of won, he won, hopefully he says I’ll fight that fella Barnes from Ireland who I already hammered three times. People might think the fight is dead in the water, but if he is looking to make a comeback I’m his man,” Barnes told James Helder of IFL TV.

Barnes also took time to reflect on his last clash, a points win over tough Spike O’Sullivan look a like Silvio Olteanu. Barnes felt during the fight he was cruising toward the WBO European title win, but claims when he watched it back he felt the clash was close and as a result has learnt a lot from the clash.

“In the fight itself I boxed terrible. In my head I wasn’t really focused on my performance I was focused on doing the rounds. In the fight I actually believed I didn’t lose a round, but then when I watched it back I thought it was very very close. I thought I only won by two or three rounds.”

“It’s a very very good experience something money can’t buy. In my next 10 rounder I’ll know what I have to do and I will be a lot better. ”

Watch Paddy Barnes speak to IFL TV below: