Five British amateur boxers go for European medals

Five British boxers are within one win of guaranteed medals after reaching the quarter-finals at the European Amateur Championships in Minsk.

Leeds light-flyweight Jack Bateson clinched a unanimous points win over Romania's Ovidiu Berceanu.

Newarthill's Charlie Flynn enjoyed an equally emphatic victory over Serban Miroslav of the Czech Republic.

They join Andrew Selby, Sam Maxwell and Joe Joyce, who made the last eight of their respective divisions on Monday.

Barry boxer Selby, the reigning champion and top seed who is looking to become the first British boxer to retain a European amateur title, saw off Bulgaria's Aleksandar Aleksandrov.

London super-heavyweight Joyce beat Serbia's Milutin Stankovic and Maxwell, from Liverpool, overcame Italy's former Olympic and world bronze medallist Vincenzo Mangiacapre via a split decision after three tight rounds.

Five Irish fighters are also in the quarter-finals in Belarus, with Paddy Barnes, a double Olympic bronze medallist, into the last eight of the light-flyweight division after clinching a unanimous win over Wales' Ashley Williams.

London 2012 silver medallist and bantamweight top seed John Joe Nevin progressed with a 3-0 victory over Selcuk Exer of Turkey.

And middleweight Jason Quigley and heavyweight Tommy McCarthy went through with points wins over Austria's Arbi Chakaev and Finland's Tomi Honka respectively.

They join Ireland team-mate and Olympic bronze medallist Michael Conlan, who booked his place in the bantamweight quarter-finals on Monday.