Paddy Barnes and Darren O'Neill are through to the final of the European Championships, but Kenny Egan, Tyrone McCullagh and Eric Donovan are out after the semi-finals in Moscow. Read below about how the semi-final action progressed with our text commentary.
13.30 Good to hear all the positive comments from your emails as once again the Irish boxers lead the way on the international stage. Former Irish boxer Terry Mahoney sends his best wishes to the lads from Australia. Nice one, Terry. So that's it for today's action. We'll be back for the finals as Paddy Barnes and Darren O'Neill look to land European gold.
Now there's a small matter of the World Cup kicking off in South Africa and, as I type, we've jumped TV channels to keep an eye and there's R Kelly doing what he does best amidst a huge dance troupe. Click here for our World Cup text commentary. Enjoy.
13.22 So Kenny Egan bows out at the semi-final stage but will be very disappointed after charging into a big early lead. Perhaps got involved in a bit of a brawl after that as Boukenia landed some big hits to reduce the gap. Egan will be disappointed with the bronze and not getting a chance to fight in the final.
Round 3: 9-11 All-sqaure after ten seconds. Egan lands another to go ahead but two quick scores to Boukenia as the Frenchman goes ahead for the first time. Egan attacks but cannot score and is chasing Boukenia into the corner but the Frenchman is bobbing and weaving to beat the band and Egan cannot connect to bridge the gap. Just runs out of time and Egan goes out with a bronze medal.
Round 2: 8-7 Early score by the French boxer is countered as Egan lands a beauty to keep a three-point gap. Egan trying to get in a bit closer now but Boukenia pushing him down. Ref keeping a close eye on it. Boukenia lands a huge score and Egan appears to stumble and another good attack by Boukenia scores again to reduce the gap to one. Egan happy enough to get to the bell, I'd imagine. Should be a cracking final round here.
Round 1: 7-4 Egan and French boxer Abdel Boukenia square up and exchange some early blows. Egan the smaller of the two but keepping out of danger before landing some great shots to take a decent lead 4-1. Opponent looks dangerous but Egan catching him as he advance. Flurry of punches at the end sees the Frenchman land two points to reducwe the gap to three.
13.10 So Ken Egan is last to fight and will be inspired by the performances of Darrren O'Neill and Paddy Barnes. Can Kenny make it three for Ireland. We think so. Just about to start here. Egan in all blue.
13.05 Great display by Darren O'Neill and a proud relative, Fergal Cleary, has just emailed us here: 'Big well done to Darren, family so proud of him , especially his little cousin Therese who loves him to pieces… GO DARREN'... Here here.
12.55 Well that was a bit too easy for a European semi-final but maybe O'Neill deserved an easy fight after the tough draw that he has come through. Then again, O'Neill made it look easy as the Bulgarian threw lots of punches, but a flawless defensive display combined with some accurate punching saw the Kilkenny man comfortably into the final.
Round 3: 6-0 Again Manev starts with a bit of agression but O'Neill is seeing everything and the Bulgarian is looking frustrated as he trys to break down the Kilkenny man. O'Neill is putting in a class performace and lands a point to go five up. This is a stroll for O'Neill and puts another on the board for a 6-0 win.
Round 2: 4-0 A bit more from the Bulgarian to start but O'Neill keeps out of harm's way. Still looking totally composed, looking a bit like Andy Lee in his tall stance leading with the right. O'Neill picks off another two points and looking very comfortable seeing every punch coming and defending with ease.
Round 1: 2-0 O'Neill the taller of the two trying to use his long reach. the Bulgarian is keeping a very low defence with his head down as O'Neill keeps his distance trying to pick him off, which he does, twice to take an early lead. Nothing from this Bulgarian yet. O'Neill looks totally in control.
12.40 Darren O'Neill is about to go head to head with Bulgaria's Mladen Manev in the semi-final of the 75kg middleweight category. O'Neill is sporting a tasty looking shiner. Here we go, O'Neill in all red.
12.30 Darren O'Neill is next up for the Irish and will be fighting shortly. O'Neill faces a very tricky appointment so will have to be at his best to advance and join Paddy Barnes in the finals.
11.55 Paddy Barnes is delighted with his victory and is looking forward to the 'biggest day of his life'. Click here to listen to Barnes' interview.
11.25 That's another defeat for Ireland as Eric Donovan, like McCullagh, has to settle for bronze. The Russian, Selimov, looks like he will go all the way so Donovan unlucky to meet him at this stage as it would have made a decent final. Two more Irish fighters still to come as Darren O'Neill and Ken Egan will be in action later this afternoon. We'll be back for the two bouts as the Irish team look to get another final berth or two.
Round 3: 2-8 Early shots landed by the Russian puts him four clear. Donovan stays on the attack but Selimov catches him again. Donovan chasing now but the Russian is very composed and staying well clear of danger. A jaded Donovan now looking for a big finish but the Russian dances around the attack and lands a powerful right to finsih with a big score and progress to the final.
Round 2: 2-4 Another decent round as Donovan maintains his attack. Good defence from the Russian before he goes on the attack himself and scores two quick points. Then back into defensive mode as Donovan struggles to score despite some great shots and imposing style. The Russian just content to stay ahead.
Round 1: 1-2 Donovan goes on the attack from the bell but great defence from the Russian. No points scored for the first two minutes. Donovan appears to land a right but not given and a counterpunch for the Russian scores. A frantic finish to the round sees both score. Good start for Donovan. Good fight this.
11.10 Eric Donovan is next up in the 60kg category. He has just arrived into the ring to fight home favourite Albert Selimov from Russia. Up against it here before he even starts as the locals get behind their man. Donovan in the red corner.
11.00 So Tyrone McCullagh bows out at the semi-final stage with a gutsy performance, but ultimately losing to the better fighter. the English boxer looked composed from the start and maybe McCullagh was a bit too eager to land scores. Having said that, he was level in the final round and if he had got ahead he may have slowed down and gone on the defensive. A bronze medal in the pocket going home, so a very successful debut for the Derry boxer.
Round 3: 3-10 Early score for McCullagh to level with most of the round to go. Weaver hits back with a point to nudge ahead. McCullagh goes on the attack to try and level again but Weaver starts to show his class as he picks his punches showing some great defence and takes a three point lead. McCullagh knows he needs to land big now but again Weaver connects with some nice counterpunching. Easy for the English lad in the end who even manages to put in a bit of showboating before the final bell.
Round 2: 2-3 A much more tentative round as Weaver just takes a point midway through with a neat right after the Derry man's punch was deflected. McCullagh looking to take the fight to his opponent but no scoring in that round.
Round 1: 2-2 The Derry man is fighting only his third European bout and he'll be looking to go for four in the final. Weaver opens up with an early point and McCullagh hits back. Another point each in what is a pretty even bout. Both fighters looking to impress. McCullagh leading with his right, is leaving himself pretty open as he goes on the attack.
10.40 Time for Irish fighter number two, Tyrone McCullagh fighting Ian Weaver from England in the 57kg featherweight category.
10.30 Barnes qualified for the final of the 48kg light flyweight compettition after a semi-final victory over Spain's José de la Nieve Linares.
Barnes is now guarenteed a silver medal at the very least after a convincing victory 6-3 over Linares at the Ice Palace.
