Patsy Joyce is just one victory away from a medal after defeating Bulgaria's Javier Ibanez Diaz at the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool this afternoon.
Olympics bronze medallist Diaz was a tough opponent for the Irish champion.
The Mullingar man won the first round of the 55kg contest 4-1 and forced a standing count of his opponent in the second.
The bout was ended by injury in the second round and the 3-2 decision went in favour of the Joyce on scorecards that read 19:18, 18:19, 19:18,18:19, 19:18.
Joyce returns to action in Wednesday's afternoon session, boxing for a medal against Uzbekistan's Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov.
Mirzakhalilov 11 years Joyce's senior, has 4 pro-boxing wins under his belt and has claimed World, Asian Games and Asian Championships gold, as well as gold at two World Boxing Cups this year.
Lisa O' Rourke missed out on a medal after losing her 70kg quarter-final 3-2 by split decision against Australian opponent Lekeisha Pergolit, who was the top seed in their category.
Victory for O'Rourke would have guaranteed a bronze medal but she ultimately suffered a narrow defeat, 28-29, 29-28, 27-30, 29-28, 29-28 on the judges' cards.
Dean Clancy also exited the championships at the last-16 stage after 5-0 defeat to Georgia's Lasha Guruli in the 65kg classification, while Brian Kennedy also bowed out at the same stage in the 85kg competition after a 5-0 decision defeat to Ukrainian opponent Danylo Zhasan.
On Wednesday, double Olympian and four-time continental champion, 75kg Aoife O’Rourke will step between the ropes, and will be in the Ring B afternoon session (Bout 6, approx. 1.15pm), in search of a place on the podium.
She will go up against Norway’s Sunniva Hofstad - a Paris Olympian and the only boxer, male or female, this year to win gold at all World Boxing Cups. O'Rourke won through to the quarter-final stage following a resounding 5-0 win over Monika Langerova of the Czech Republic.
Paris Olympian, Offaly’s Gráinne Walsh, will box for a medal against China’s Yang Liu - the Paris silver medalist at the 65kg weight - in the evening session (Ring A, Bout 5, approx. 7pm).
Walsh has recorded two wins to make it to this stage of the tournament: the first, a stylish 5-0 win over Slovakia’s Jessica Triebelova, following by a masterful performance over Mariana Soto Torres of Spain.
You can watch the World Boxing Championships live on Eurovision Sport.
