Jude Gallagher has become the sixth Irish boxer to secure qualification for the Paris Olympics after a dominant performance in his quarter-final bout with Turkmenistan's Sukur Owezow at the World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy.
The Tyrone featherweight forced his opponent to take standing eight counts in the first and second rounds, powering to a comfortable victory on points to progress to the semi-final and, more importantly, book his ticket to Paris.
Gallagher joins Kellie Harrington, Michaela Walsh, Aoife O'Rourke, Dean Clancy, and Jack Marley on the Irish boxing team bound for the French capital.
However, there was heartbreak for Gráinne Walsh, who missed out after suffering a controversial loss in her welterweight quarter-final with Poland's Aneta Rygielska this afternoon.
One win away from booking her spot in Paris, Offaly woman Walsh lost on an agonising 3-2 split decision from the judges, with some observers left bemused at the scoring.
In the second round, Rygielska received a standing eight count from the referee, yet three of the five judges awarded the round to the Pole.
Rygielska was also docked a point for holding but while the Norwegian and Sri Lankan judges deemed Walsh the clear winner, awarding her a 29-27 victory, the Italian, Moroccan and Argentinian judges scored the fight 28-apiece, meaning that under professional rules, the fight would have been deemed a draw.
However, being forced to pick a winner, the three judges plumped for Rygielska, sending the Pole to Paris.
There will be a final Olympic qualifier in Thailand in May, but, as there are only six weight classes for women, former world champions Amy Broadhurst and Lisa O'Rourke are also aiming to qualify at 66kg, so it remains to be seen who will be selected for that tournament.
There was disappointment also for Waterford light heavyweight (80kg) Kelyn Cassidy after he was edged out by reigning world champion Nurbek Oralbay of Kazakhstan.
Cassidy was the fourth Irish boxer to come out the wrong side of a 3-2 decision at the tournament but will have a final opportunity to qualify in May.
On a scorecard where he was squeezed out by a point, the opening round proved costly, with four of the five judges awarding it to Oralbay.
Two judges gave Cassidy the win by a point and two to the Kazakh by the bare minimum, with the Fijian official going 30-27 in favour of the victor.
