Barrett's brave effort comes to end

THE Olympic odyssey ended for Francis Barrett last night. Barrett, the Irish flag bearer in the Games' opening ceremony ten nights ago, was out pointed and out punched by Tunisian Fathi Missaoui in their light welterweight second round match in the Alexander Memorial Coliseum.

For Damaen Kelly, however, the journey continues. Displaying tremendous ring sense, Kelly recorded a superb 27-20 points decision over Australian flyweight Hussein Hussein to move within one fight of a medal.

Barrett was almost too brave for his own good. The 20 year old Galway man the first member of the travelling community to fight in the Olympic Games took the fight to Missaoui from the start but the Tunisian, with his longer reach, picked off Barrett relentlessly.

Massaoui countered very well in the first round to lead 5-3 but the second round proved to be crucial. Barrett was too open and kept pushing forward. It suited the Tunisian, who used his mobility and reach to pick off points. Maasaoui won the second round 9-1 and, while Barrett fought for his pride in the closing round, the contest was out of his reach and he eventually lost 18-6.

"I'm not disappointed at all, I am very proud of what I have achieved. It has been the best year of my life. I carried the flag and got to 16th in the world. That's not bad, is it? It has been a great experience for me," said Barrett.

"I told the people of Galway I would give 120 per cent. I did. I am the sort of fighter who loves to go forward. I want to fight in Sydney, too. But when I am an old man, I can say I had everyone behind me in Atlanta. Everyone in that stadium tonight was my friend," he added.

Kelly was just too cute for Hussein. "I just wanted to box and move, box and move, said the 23 year old Belfast fitter, who will fight world number one Bulat Dzumadilov in Wednesday's flyweight quarter final with a guaranteed bronze medal to the winner.

"I don't have any fear of him," said Kelly, who lost to the Kazakhstan fighter in a tournament in Sweden earlier this season. "I have come on from that fight, I'm a lot stronger. If you want to be the best, you've got to beat the best. I have a very positive attitude.

"I've beaten a world number one before, a Cuban in Dublin, so I know I can take on anyone, said Kelly who recorded a 27-20 points decision over Hussein. The fight, however, was very close for the opening two rounds with both fighters landing punches in a tit for tat affair.

As in his previous bout when he narrowly out pointed Bulgarian Julian Strogov thanks to a strong last round, Kelly again inflicted most damage in the final three minutes, repeatedly catching Hussein and moving swiftly out of reach before tormenting his opponent again. It was a smart ploy that frustrated Hussein.

Kelly, who led 7-6 at the end of the first round and was still just a point ahead (16-15) at the bell to end the second, turned on the class in the third and decisive round. His punches were clean and crisp his reactions keen. Kelly's clever strategy was reflected in the scoring with the Irishman taking the last round by an 11-5 margin.

Hussein, a 20 year old fighter who earned the "Boxer of the Year" award in his native Australia in 1995, was a gutsy performer. When Kelly appeared to have gained the upper edge mid way through the second round the Australian responded by catching the Belfastman with a flurry which brought him back into the fight. Kelly's concentration was unerring thereafter, however, and he was very much the boss in the decisive round.

"I am the sort of boxer who will give 110 per cent," said Kelly. I've trained hard and I am ready. As the tournament goes on, I feel I can get even better.

The wound over his right eye which Kelly suffered in his first bout opened up again last night, but it doesn't worry him. "The lads aren't allowed stitch it, but they will work on it and I don't think it will give me any problems on Wednesday," he said.

Opponent Hussein was a strong fighter, if not quite in Kelly's league. The Australian failed in his efforts to close up the fight, with Kelly's speed and ring craft, especially in the third round, opening him up.

"He was just too sharp, too fast for me," said Hussein. "I couldn't get at him. I wanted to pin him in a corner, but there was no way I could manage it. He was too clever. I have learnt a lot from this fight. I know what standard I have to aim for.