There were mixed fortunes for Ireland’s boxers at the AIBA Olympic qualifiers, with Irish medal hopeful Joe Ward controversially losing along with Con Sheehan and Ross Hickey, while Adam Nolan and Tommy McCarthy both progressed to the next round.
The Irish team have lodged a protest against the scoring in Ward’s bout with Turk Bahran Muzaffer, but Sheehan and Hickey’s Olympic dreams are over.
Super heavyweight Sheehan was the second Irish fighter to fall to a home boxer, but his reverse didn’t hold the same controversary as Wards.

The Tipperary big man lost out on a 17-12 scoreline to Muhammet Erkan Aci.

Boxer of the Tournament for the 2011 Nationals Ross Hickey’s path to London was blocked by Dimitri Galagot of Molodva. Hickey was just one point down after the first round, 6-5, but his opponent pulled away and led 13-9 going into the last round.

Adam Nolan of Bray came back from a knock down to eventually defeat Tomaz Kot of Poland by a 14-9 margin.

Katie Taylor’s club mate lead 11-6 going into the last stanza meaning Kot went for broke in the third. The Pole landed a big shot and forced Nolan to take a count, but he survived and progress to the next round.

Heavyweight Tommy McCarthy, who has to win the tournament to progress to London,  is also through after a 12-3 win over Copla Alem from Bosnia & Herzegovina.

The Oliver Plunkett’s fighter won all of the rounds (4-1, 4-1, 4-1) to advance. He will now meet Ukrainian opposition to in Wednesdays quarter final .