Paddy Barnes has said he has no regrets about his career after retiring from boxing.

The two-time Olympic bronze medallist and three-time Olympian fought nine times during three years as a professional.

Barnes, 32, had a decorated amateur stint before turning over and winning numerous fringe belts and challenging for the WBC world title at flyweight back in August 2018.

He won gold medals while competing for Northern Ireland at the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games, while representing Ireland in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and carried the Irish flag at the Rio Games three years ago.

But ‘The Leprechaun’, who recently called time on his in-ring career following a stoppage defeat to Jay Harris for the IBF Inter-Continental flyweight title in October, knows the decision he has made is a correct one.

"The only reason I was in the sport was to be the best," said Barnes. "I could have fought journeymen and got paid for it, but that's not what I was in boxing for.

“Being a professional was never a dream of mine. My dream was always to be an Olympic champion and I achieved that.”

Back in March, Barnes was beaten by Oscar Mojica at Madison Square Garden in New York.

"I've had a great career and achieved so much,” he added. “I have loved every minute of boxing, it has been my life for the past 21 years.

"Professional boxing was never a dream of mine but I tried and threw myself into the deep end straight away.

"It didn't work out but I wouldn't have it any other way."