TOMMY MCCARTHY GOT Ireland’s medal challenge off to a winning start on day one of the World Boxing Championships.
The Belfast heavyweight battled through to the last 32 with an unanimous decision win over Bulgaria’s Nikolay Mutavski in Almaty.
The fight was very much in the balance after two rounds before a dominant finish ensured that McCarthy took the final round and the fight on all three cards: 30-27, 29-28, 29-28.
He now meets Canada’s Samir El-Mais on Friday.
“Tommy performed very well today and we’re delighted to have made a winning start to the tournament,” Irish team manager Paul McMahon said.
Two more Irish fighters launch their medal challenge in Kazakhstan tomorrow.
Sean McComb faces Almog Briga of Israel in the 60kg division while Ray Moylette, the 2011 European champion, takes on Greece’s Alexandros Tsanikidis in the 64kg.
