European Games: Sean McComb loses lightweight semi-final in Baku

Sean McComb in action in his semi-final against Albert Selimov

Belfast lightweight Sean McComb picked up a bronze medal at the Baku European Games after losing to Albert Selimov of Azerbaijan in his semi-final on Friday.

The impressive and vastly experienced number one seed Selimov won on a unanimous decision over the 22-year-old Holy Trinity southpaw in the 60kg bout.

The judges gave Selimov the fight on a scoreline of 29-28, 30-27 and 29-28.

He dictated proceedings for the first two rounds but McComb edged the third round on two of the judges' scorecards.

The Ireland boxer was on the back foot from the first bell and took a blow in the second round with a bad cut on his right temple from a clash of heads.

He regained his composure to take the third, but his opponent had already done enough in the first two rounds to seal a final spot and earn a shot at a gold medal.

Number four seed McComb had ensured at least a bronze medal by taking a unanimous points decision over Turkey's Yasin Yilmaz in his quarter-final on Tuesday.

He had already enjoyed unanimous victories over Ukraine's Tymur Beliak Italy's Donato Cosenza.

McComb's ultimate goal remains next summer's Olympic Games in Rio and if home hero Selimov wins the final, the Irishman will get one of the top three places for the World Championships in Qatar in November offered by the European Games.

Ireland's Michael O'Reilly is assured of at least a silver medal after receiving a walkover into the middleweight final.

The Portlaoise fighter had been due step into the ring at 10:00 BST to meet Russian Maxim Koptyakov, but a cut eye sustained in his quarter-final bout ruled Koptyakov out of the semi-final.