Michael Conlan guaranteed at least a bronze medal in Minsk

BELFAST flyweight Michael Conlan, who won an Olympic bronze at the London Games, has beaten Siarhei Loban.

It now means that there are four Irish boxers into the semi-finals of the European championships in Minsk and are all guaranteed at least a bronze medal each.

Conlan stopped his opponent in the second round.

Belfast’s newly elected Lord Mayor Mairtin O’Muilleoir tweeted on Wednesday morning: ” Irish boxers are guaranteed bronze including Mick and Paddy….Belfast bursting with pride.”

Conlan,  from the Falls Road in west Belfast, joins Belfast boxer Paddy Barnes has clinched at least a bronze medal at the European Championships.

It follows a split-points decision win over Istvan Ungvari.

The twice Olympic light-fly bronze medallist had a 29-28, 27-30, 29-28 victory over the Hungarian in Belarus.

However, fellow Belfast fighter Tommy McCarthy was beaten 29-28 29-28 29-28 by number one seed Teymur Mammadou of Azerbaijan at heavyweight.

John Joe Nevin and Donegal’s Jason Quigley have also secured medals.

Nevin was the first Irishman to secure a medal when he defeated Krisztian Nagy at bantamweight.

Nevin enjoyed a comfortable 30-24, 30-27, 30-25 victory over his Hungarian opponent in Minsk.

Middleweight Quigley, from Finn Valley Boxing Club, defeated Germany’s Stefan Hartel 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 in his quarter-final on Wednesday.

Barnes progressed to the semi-finals despite the Argentine judge giving all three rounds to Ungvari.