MICHAEL CONLAN ‘kept his cool’ to book a final place at the World Championships in Doha.
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Conlan, who is already qualified for the Rio Olympics next year, claimed a 3-0 unanimous decision win over Dzmitry Asanau of Belarus in today’s 56kg semi-final.
He will now meet Murodjon Akhmadaliev of Uzbekistan in the bantamweight final on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old Belfast native claimed a 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 win after controlling the fight, although two judges surprisingly scored the second round for Asanau, a European Games medallist.
“I kept my cool and held by patience, I didn’t panic,” said Conlan after his win. “I just knew I had to keep to my gameplan because he [Asanau] was going to fold – he’s only a young lad,” added Conlan on his 19-year-old opponent.
Portlaoise middleweight Michael O’Reilly unfortunately suffered a 2-1 defeat to Uzbekistan’s Bektemir Melikuziev. O’Reilly will still go home with a bronze medal and must win a third-place box-off to qualify for the Rio Olympics — although convoluted AIBA rules mean another path may possibly open up depending on other results.
Joe Ward is one win away from booking his Olympic spot. The Moate light-heavyweight is not in semi-final action until Monday, taking on Ishod Rasulov of Uzbekistan.
Irish boxer Michael Conlan is one win away from World Championship gold
Ciarán Gallagher reports from Doha
MICHAEL CONLAN ‘kept his cool’ to book a final place at the World Championships in Doha.
Conlan, who is already qualified for the Rio Olympics next year, claimed a 3-0 unanimous decision win over Dzmitry Asanau of Belarus in today’s 56kg semi-final.
He will now meet Murodjon Akhmadaliev of Uzbekistan in the bantamweight final on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old Belfast native claimed a 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 win after controlling the fight, although two judges surprisingly scored the second round for Asanau, a European Games medallist.
“I kept my cool and held by patience, I didn’t panic,” said Conlan after his win. “I just knew I had to keep to my gameplan because he [Asanau] was going to fold – he’s only a young lad,” added Conlan on his 19-year-old opponent.
Portlaoise middleweight Michael O’Reilly unfortunately suffered a 2-1 defeat to Uzbekistan’s Bektemir Melikuziev. O’Reilly will still go home with a bronze medal and must win a third-place box-off to qualify for the Rio Olympics — although convoluted AIBA rules mean another path may possibly open up depending on other results.
Joe Ward is one win away from booking his Olympic spot. The Moate light-heavyweight is not in semi-final action until Monday, taking on Ishod Rasulov of Uzbekistan.
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Boxing Doha Joe Ward Michael Conlan Michael O'Reilly World Championships