article_snippet.sent: Both Belfast boxers (bronze medallists at London 2012), were in action for the Italia Thunder franchise in Venezuela on Saturday night, with the pair needing victories to book flights to Rio.
article_snippet.sent: team-mate Paddy Barnes delivered in style, extending team-mate Paddy Barnes undefeated WSB record this season to 7-0 with a split-decision points win over native light-flyweight Yoel Finol.
article_snippet.sent: The spilt-decision win was enough to help team-mate Paddy Barnes top the 49kg WSB rankings, with the Ardoyne native leapfrogging Uzbekistan’s Hasanboy Dusmatov to claim the only Olympic qualification spot on offer through the competition.
article_snippet.sent: Not only did the Falls Road fighter need to win — which the Falls Road fighter did, earning a 49-46 unanimous points win over Venezuelan opponent José Vicente Azocar — but the Falls Road fighter also had to rely on a shock result elsewhere.
article_snippet.sent: The 23-year-old leapt to No 2 in the WSB bantamweight rankings, claiming the second 56kg Olympic spot on offer thanks to the Falls Road fighter win and the fact that Garcia.
article_snippet.sent: Garcia had Azerbaijan’s Magomed Gurbanov down in the fifth and final round of their bout as the Puerto Rican became a cult hero for Irish boxing, akin to Scottish footballer Gary Mackay who booked a place at Euro ’88 for Jack Charlton’s Ireland side thanks to a goal against Bulgaria.
article_snippet.sent: Both Conlan and Barnes won bronze at London 2012, and will now represent Ireland again in Rio .
article_snippet.sent: Barnes, meanwhile, has created history by becoming the first Irish boxer ever to qualify for three Olympics.
highlights_snippet.sent: Michael Conlan and Paddy Barnes both win to reach Rio 2016 games .
  