Star crossed Emerald Isle defense for Cris

Nicaraguan Cristofer “Latigo” Rosales, will make the first defence of his WBC flyweight belt in Northern Ireland on August 18.

His rival will be former Olympian Paddy Barnes, on a card topped  by Carl Frampton, at Windsor Park in Belfast.

Barnes has only fought five pro bouts, with just one knockout, but with an exceptional  career in amateur boxing, winning two Olympic bronze medals, at the 2008 Beijing Games and London 2012, he’s no newcomer.

In his most recent fight last November, Barnes defeated Nicaraguan Eliécer Quezada by KO. So he will face Rosales, almost a year after that last fight.

Rosales sprang a massive surprise on April 15, when he knocked out KO Artist Daigo Higa, in nine rounds, to win the flyweight crown of the WBC.