KURT WALKER AND Joe Ward joined their Ireland teammates in the quarter-finals of the European Championships in Kharkiv, Ukraine earlier today.
Both Walker and Ward are now just one away from a medal, and have also qualified for this year’s World Championships.
Lisburn bantamweight Walker overcame Azerbaijan’s Tayfur Aliyez by a split decision, and now finds himself facing Italy’s Raffaele Di Serio in Wednesday’s medal fight.
“Buzzing! Only getting started,” he tweeted afterwards.
Kurt Walker / Twitter
Kurt Walker / Twitter / Twitter
Moate’s Ward also advanced to last eight in the 81kg category after a unanimous decision, and dominating win over Slovakia’s Matus Strnisko. He fights Scotland’s Sean Lazzerine tomorrow.
The top eight boxers in each weight division are guaranteed places at the upcoming World Championships, which are set to be held in Germany in August.
On Monday Sean McComb pulled off a stunning upset to book his quarter-final place, while Belfast flyweight Brendan Irvine also earned a place in the last eight.
England’s Luke McCormack is McComb’s next opponent, while Irvine fights Gabriel Escobar of Spain at 52kg tomorrow.
Irish captain Darren O’Neill bowed out of the tournament today, losing on a split decision to Ukraine’s Ramazazaqn Musilimov. Dubliner Emmet Brennan was also defeated to Azerbaijan’s Kamran Shakhsuvarly.
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