It’s been a good news/bad news kind of day for Irish fight fans.
In the professional world, Andy Lee’s title defence against Billy Joe Saunders was postponed and moved to Manchester which is a huge disappointment for supporters of the WBO middleweight champion who had tickets for Thomond Park.
But there can be quite a bit of consolation taken from the fact that three of Ireland’s greatest amateurs have been guaranteed medals at the European boxing championships in Bulgaria.
Michael Conlan progressed to the bantamweight semi-finals after outsmarting Denmark’s Frederick Jensen en route to a decision victory.
Medal in the bag, onto the next one!!! Box Friday in the semis against Italy, looking forward to getting to another win on my way to #Gold
— Michael Conlan (@mickconlan11) August 12, 2015
In the light-welterweight division, Dean Walsh used his significant reach to outpoint Hungary’s Nyeki Georgian to set up a semi-final clash with Vitaly Dunaytev.
European gold medallist Joe Ward came out on top in his light heavyweight meeting with Belarus’ Mikhail Dauhaliavets, guaranteeing himself at least a bronze medal.
It wasn’t all glory for Irish fighters though as Wexford’s Adam Nolan fell 29-28 on all scorecards, with his place at the World Championships now hanging in the balance.
