Ciarán Gallagher reports from Doha
MICHAEL CONLAN ‘kept his cool’ to book a final place at the World Championships in Doha.
Conlan, who is already qualified for the Rio Olympics next year, claimed a 3-0 unanimous decision win over Dzmitry Asanau of Belarus in today’s 56kg semi-final.
He will now meet Murodjon Akhmadaliev of Uzbekistan in the bantamweight final on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old Belfast native claimed a 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 win after controlling the fight, although two judges surprisingly scored the second round for Asanau, a European Games medallist.
“I kept my cool and held by patience, I didn’t panic,” said Conlan after his win. “I just knew I had to keep to my gameplan because he [Asanau] was going to fold – he’s only a young lad,” added Conlan on his 19-year-old opponent.
Portlaoise middleweight Michael O’Reilly unfortunately suffered a 2-1 defeat to Uzbekistan’s Bektemir Melikuziev. O’Reilly will still go home with a bronze medal and must win a third-place box-off to qualify for the Rio Olympics — although convoluted AIBA rules mean another path may possibly open up depending on other results.
Joe Ward is one win away from booking his Olympic spot. The Moate light-heavyweight is not in semi-final action until Monday, taking on Ishod Rasulov of Uzbekistan.
