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Belfast light-flyweight Paddy Barnes will face experienced Cameroon boxer Thomas Essomba in the last 16 of his division at the Olympics on Saturday.

Barnes, a bronze medal winner at the 2008 Games, received a bye into the last 16 while Essomba beat Abdlali Darra 13-10 at the last 32 stage.

Michael Conlan, who also received a bye, will face Ghana's Duke Akueth Micah in the last 16 on Friday evening.

Micah saw off Jason Olivier Lavigilante on an 18-14 decision on Monday night.

John Joe Nevin will be the next Irish boxer in action, the two-time AIBA World medalist meeting Kanat Abutalipov of Kazakhstan in the bantamweight class on Wednesday afternoon.

The Nevin versus Abutalipov 56kg duel is a repeat of the 2009 AIBA President's Cup semi-final in Baku, Azerbaijan which Nevin won 15-2.

Irish team captain Darren O'Neill is between the ropes against a German opponent on Thursday, followed by his fellow southpaw and Irish team-mate Adam Nolan, and Conlan, on Friday.

Katie Taylor makes her Olympic debut against either Great Britain's Natasha Jonas or America's Queen Underwood next Monday.

Liverpool-born southpaw Jonas and Seattle-native Underwood clash on Sunday afternoon.