MEDAL ALERT: Clinical Conlan guarantees World Championships bronze

Ireland captain Mick Conlan has guaranteed himself at least a bronze medal at the World Championships with a superb win in the quarter finals today. The Belfast bantamweight was in imperious form in Doha, comfortably outpointing Azerbaijan’s Tayfur Aliyev.

The 23 year old had been eliminated at this stage of the tournament in the last two World Championships, but there was no chance of it happening a third time for Conlan who was dominant throughout

The Irishman was in control of a tentative opening round, scoring nice single shots and countering whatever his 18 year old opponent threw at him.

Conlan, who switch hit throughout, asserted himself more in the second stanza, boxing well and scoring at will.

The final round was an exhibition from the Clonard man who danced around and countered the chasing Azeri – and even had time to acknowledge the frenzied Irish support who belted out ‘The Fields of Athenry’ as the clock wound down.

Conlan is now the second Irishman, after John Joe Nevin, to win Olympic, World, and European medals. Conlan is also the first Irishman to win Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth medals.

Conlan will now look to change the colour of his medal, and is targeting gold. He faces of Dzmitry Asanau of Belarus in the semi finals tomorrow evening.