Paddy Barnes ensured that there will be five Irish boxers in action in Wednesday’s quarter-finals at the World Championships in Kazakhstan following an inside the distance win over Kenya’s Simon Nziok.
The Belfast flyweight dropped Nziok with a sweet left hook in the second minute of the opening round and the referee called a halt to proceedings.
Earlier Light-heavyweight Joe Ward comfortably booked his place in the World Championship quarter-finals with a unanimous points victory over Hungary’s Norbert Harsca.
Ward will now meet Russian boxer Nikita Ivanova.
Importantly for Team Ireland Barnes, Ward, Michael Conlan, Tommy McCarthy and Jason Quigley will now be fighting for a medal.
Earlier Belfast boxer Sean McComb failed to make the last-eight after losing out on a split decision to Elvin Isayev of Azerbaijan in their lightweight contest..
McComb started well and was awarded the opening round after keeping his opponent at bay.
However, Isayev found his range thereafter and his aggressive approach reaped a winning dividend.
The judges scored the fight 29-28, 28-29, 27-30.
