John Joe Nevin has reached the bantamweight semi-finals of the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, however, middleweight Darren O’Neill and flyweight Michael Conlon have bowed out of the competition at the last-eight stage.
Nevin, fighting out of Cavan BC, beat Orzubek Shaymov of Uzbekistan to book his spot in the semi-finals. His last-four berth guarantees him a bronze medal at least, with his semi-final against Englishman Luke Campbell taking place on Friday.
Nevin’s win creates history as he becomes the first Irishman to win two World Championships medals, having won bronze in Milan two years ago.
O’Neill, of Paulstown BC, Kilkenny, was defeated by Royota Murata of Japan in his quarter-final clash, meaning his World Championships is over.
Flyweight Conlon, of St John Bosco BC, Belfast, fought with the soul of a lion against European champion Andrew Selby of Wales. But the 19-year-old agonisingly lost the quarter-final by a single point – 25-24.
