BOXING:ONE STRAND runs through all conversations about Paddy Barnes. He is unflappable: so cool he could reverse global warming single-handedly. Just as well.

Today he steps in against an opponent who carries the hopes of 1.3 billion Chinese on his shoulders. To Barnes's way of thinking, that means all the pressure is on Zou Shiming.

Barnes began boxing as an 11-year-old, and, if finding himself 10 years later at the Olympics represents a fast-tracking of his talent, he is used to taking the express lane. Famously, he lost his first 15 fights, but considering he went to the Kronk gym in Belfast on a Monday evening and had the first of those fights the following Sunday, that is understandable.

He is notoriously indifferent to the world of boxing and its lore. He does his work, minds his face and gets on with life. For quite a while, despite his promise as a kid, he couldn't advance beyond Antrim in terms of the national championships. Then (hard to believe, looking at him) he went up a weight, went to Dublin and won a national title. He was 16 and had to think seriously about boxing for the first time.

He was surprised last October when his showing at the Worlds in Chicago caused such a fuss. The world congratulated him on qualifying for the Olympics. He was unmoved and more concerned with what Zou had done to him.

"I had no real idea about the Olympics. Right up to Chicago, I just felt that all I ever wanted to do was to fight at the World Championships," he said.

In the last round, he beat Lukasz Maszcyk, who beat him at the outset of his senior career two years ago. What impressed was the amount he had learned in the interim. He has had nine months to absorb the lessons of losing to Zou. Today will tell the tale.

"I don't like watching boxing. It's boring. I'm more into listening to dance music. And Kylie Minogue."

- Tom Humphries