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Newly Released Olympic Gold Medal Odds For Ireland's Boxers Make For A Tasty Bet Or Two

Gavan Casey
By Gavan Casey
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Of Ireland's 28 Olympic medals, 16 have been won in the sport of boxing.

Bantamweight Mick Conlan and light-flyweight Paddy Barnes have already booked their places at next summer's Olympic Games through stunning displays in the World Series of Boxing, and will no doubt be joined by a host of their fellow Irish elites in the coming months.

Now less than a year from the Games, Paddy Power have released the odds on Belfast's already-qualified dynamic duo emulating Michael Carruth at Rio 2016, and bringing home gold medals for their country.

World No.6 Barnes opens at a fairly stingy 6/4 - the two-time Olympic bronze medallist's odds perhaps shortened due to the fact that his conqueror at both Beijing and London - and subsequent double-Olympic champ, Zou Shiming - has turned over to the pro ranks.

Barnes' freakish activity, too, is a factor in what will be the first Olympic Games to apply the '10-9 round scoring system,' as opposed to awarding points for individual shots.

Along with Kanturk's Pat O'Callaghan (gold in the hammer throw at Amsterdam 1928 and Los Angeles 1932), Barnes is the only Irish athlete to have ever medalled at two separate Games, and you'd be a fool to bet against the 28-year-old further cementing his legendary status in Brazil.

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But the real value lies with Barnes' close mate Mick Conlan, who opens at a slightly wide 5/1 to claim bantamweight gold in Rio.

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Fresh off his gold medal and Boxer of the Tournament performance at this month's Europeans, the dynamic switch-hitter is still ranked at World no.7, just behind the man who trumped him at London - eventual gold medallist Robeisy Ramirez of Cuba.

A 20-year-old kid when he won bronze at London 2012, Conlan has developed both physically and mentally in the intervening years.

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Back in February, I saw him spar with professional lightweight contender Stephen Ormond; he looked like he could turn pro in the morning. Indeed, he told me that as soon as Rio draws to a close, he will - declaring that he'll be "gunning for" IBF super-bantam kingpin and close friend Carl Frampton.

His pro-ready style now amalgamates perfectly with the new amateur scoring system, and like Barnes he retains the ability to outwork opponents as well as outbox them.

Conlan is a snip at 5/1 considering there's every chance those odds will shorten after the World Championships in Doha in two months' time.

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And the Belfast stylist responded to Paddy Power's relatively long odds in typically bashful style:

Forget your yankee, Paddy. An Olympic gold medal double for arguably the greatest bromance in Irish sport can be had at 14/1.

Who said there's no money to be made in amateur boxing?

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