Joe Ward and David Oliver Joyce got Ireland off to a winning start on the opening day of the AIBA Olympic qualifiers in Trabzon, Turkey on Sunday.
Ward, the current European light-heavyweight champion, recorded a 16-6 win over experienced Swedish light-heavyweight Kennedy Katende.
Meanwhile, Joyce had his hand raised in victory after Joe Cordina of Wales was retired by his own corner after taking two standing counts in the third.
Joyce was 10-4 down after the first round, but turned things around in spectacular style in the second to hold a 17-14 lead going into the final round.
Ward will now meet Bahran Muzaffer of Turkey, who Kenneth Egan beat en route to silver at the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing, in the last 16 on Monday,.
Joyce faces Germany's Arthur Bril in the last 16 on Tuesday in a repeat of the recent Chemistry Cup quarter-final which Joyce won on a countback following a 16-16 tie in Germany.
Ireland head coach Billy Walsh admitted that they were delighted to get off to a winning start.
"It's a great boost to the rest of the squad to make a winning start and it will give the squad confidence going into their contests,” Walsh said.
“David was 10-4 down after the first but he produced a fantastic second round and really turned it around.”
"Joe was in against a very experienced opponent and it was a fine win. He was in control and he did what he had to do."
Ward, Ross Hickey, Adam Nolan, Tommy McCarthy and Con Sheehan will be in action on Monday.
