Updated at 18.30
IRELAND’S JOE WARD, Brendan Irvine and Kurt Walker guaranteed themselves at least a bronze medal each at the European Championships in Kharkiv, Ukraine today.
Lisburn native Walker emerged victorious via split decision in his bantamweight quarter-final against Italy’s Raffaele Di Serio earlier today, before Rio Olympians Irvine and Ward added to the Irish success this evening.
Irvine was more convincing against Spain’s Gabriel Escobar, the flyweight emerging with a unanimous decision victory from another tough bout.
Next up for Belfast’s ‘Wee Rooster’ is a semi-final against England’s Niall Farrell.
Moate man Ward then completed a mostly superb day for the Irish with a unanimous decision victory against Scotland’s Sean Lazzerini in their light heavyweight quarter-final
There was disappointment for Ireland elsewhere, however. After his sensational defeat of world number one Vitaly Dunaytsev on Monday, Belfast-born light-welterweight Sean McComb was beaten in a split decision against England’s Luke McCormack in the quarter-finals.
All aforementioned Irish boxers have guaranteed their places at the World Championships in Germany next August by reaching this stage.
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