Conlon sets tone with thumping win

IRELAND’S Elite boxers are approaching the business end of the European Senior Championships in Turkey after claiming eight wins out of 10 in Ankara over the weekend.

Team captain Darren O’Neill, Michael Conlon and WillieMcLaughlin all won yesterday to march into the latter stages of the tournament.

Belfast flyweight Michael Conlon produced a magnificent final round to stun England’s former World Cadet champion Khalid Yafai yesterday to book his place in the last eight. Described by Irish coach Jimmy Halpin as an uncut diamond, Conlon, of the St John Bosco BC, hammered out an 19-10 decision over the Beijing Olympian and 2010 European silver medallist.