Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan win European medals
- Published
Belfast boxers Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan were among four Irish fighters to clinch medals at the European Amateur Championships on Wednesday.
Barnes progressed to the semi-finals of the light-fly division as he edged out Hungary's Istvan Ungvari on points.
Michael Conlan is also guaranteed at least a flyweight bronze after a second-round stoppage of Belarus's Siarhei Loban of Belarus.
But another Belfast man Tommy McCarthy was beaten in the light-heavy division.
Olympic bantamweight silver medallist John Joe Nevin and Donegal middleweight Jason Quigley joined Barnes and Conlan in guaranteeing themselves at least a bronze medal from the championships in Belarus.
Twice Olympic light-fly bronze medallist Barnes had a 29-28, 27-30, 29-28 victory over Hungarian Ungvari to set up a semi-final meeting with Azerbaijan's defending champion Salman Alizida on Friday.
Barnes progressed to the semi-finals despite the Argentine judge giving all three rounds to Ungvari.
Conlan produced a dynamic display to completely outclass local favourite Loban to wrap up victory in the second round.
The Olympic bronze medallist will meet Russia's Ovik Ogannisian in Friday's semi-finals.
However, another Belfast man McCarthy was beaten 29-28 29-28 29-28 by number one seed Teymur Mammadou of Azerbaijan at heavyweight.
Nevin was the first Irishman to secure a medal when he defeated Hungarian Krisztian Nagy at bantamweight.
The Mullingar man enjoyed a comfortable 30-24, 30-27, 30-25 victory over his Hungarian opponent and will meet Russia's Nikitin Vladimir in the semi-finals on Friday.
Finn Valley middleweight Quigley defeated Germany's Stefan Hartel 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 in his quarter-final on Wednesday and will take on current world champion Levgen Khytrov of the Ukraine in Friday's semi-finals.
Khytrov missed out on a medal at last year's Olympics after a hugely controversial defeat by Britain's Anthony Ogogo.
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