Frampton into semi finals at European Championships

Featherweight Carl Frampton created Irish boxing history tonight following a clinical victory over Latvian Denis Zabins in the quarter final of the European Union Championships at the National Stadium in Dublin.

The win-which guarantees Frampton at least bronze-is the first senior medal that an Irish boxer has won in European competition in Dublin since 1947.

But Irish lightweight Eric Donovan and his St Michael's Athy team-mate John Joe Joyce both exited the tournament following quarter final reversals this evening.

Joyce put in a stunning performance against two times European champion Gyula Kate, but the Hungarian hung on the edge the quarter final by a three point margin.

It was tough luck on Joyce who dropped two points after receiving a public warning for holding in the third when he was three points ahead.

Kate meantime, looked relieved to get out of the ring with his two year unbeaten EU intact against the St Michael's Athy ace who boxed magnificently on the night.

Meanwhile, Frampton, from the Midlands White City club in Belfast, put a halt to Zabins ambitions on the 20 point rule (22-2) in the second round and will now meet Polish southpaw Michel Chudecki in the semi finals on Friday.

Frampton had the Latvian in all sorts of problems from the opening bell stepping right inside Zabins longer reach to consistently land powerful

rights.

Zabins didn't do himself any favours when he conceded four points after receiving two public warnings for dropping his head mid way through the second.

Frampton, fighting for the first time in a senior international at featherweight,then went in for the kill and once the Belfast man went 20 points ahead the bout was stopped.

Speaking from ringside, where he was watching Chudecki, the 2005 Irish senior champ said that he felt that it was the best he has ever boxed in

a long time.

He said: "I felt very strong in there and when I hit him I could see he was backing off so I kept stepping inside and the tactics worked and I am now looking forward to the semi finals".

"It was the best I have boxed in quite a while and I am delighted with the win here tonight."

But while Frampton was celebrating, Eric Donovan dropped out of the tournament after he was stopped on the 20 rule by three times Italian EU Champ Domenico Valentino.

Donovan was ahead 4-0 early in the first but Valentino stormed back and when Donovan received a public warning for dropping his head in the second the Italian was ten points ahead.

Valentino, a World and European bronze medallist then opened up a 20 point lead to march into the semi finals where he will meet

Pole Marcin Legowski.

In this afternoons session there was treble disappointment for Irish boxers after Ryan Lindberg, Conor Ahern and Paddy Barnes all bowed out at the quarter final stage.

Immaculata Belfast bantamweight Lindberg, was involved in the final bout of this afternoons session but he was always behind against Slovakian Rudolph Dydi who had a nine point advantage going into the final round.

Lindberg, who celebrated his 19th birthday on Wednesday, will be disappointed with this result. However, the Belfast teenager,-boxing in his

first major international tournament-can only learn from this experience.

Ahern, from the Baldoyle club in Dublin,also bowed out at the quarter final stage after he was beaten by defending EU champion Salim Salimov of Bulgaria.

But Ahern can be proud of his performance as he had Salimov on the back foot for most of this contest. However, at the end of four high tempo rounds it was the Bulgarians longer reach that proved to be the difference although when Ahern stepped inside he clearly had his opponent worried.

Salimov spent the final thirty seconds of the final round avoiding close range combat but did land two swift right jabs as Ahern was throwing caution to the wind in a brave attempt to reduce the deficit.

Holy Trinity Belfast light flyweight Barnes didn't come out for the start of the second round because of an eye injury versus Nordine Ouballi

of France.

Ouballi-ranked ninth in Europe-was 11-3 ahead going into the second and is now guaranteed to be taking home at least a bronze medal from Dublin.

The European Union Championships will resume with quarter finals tomorrow at 2.30pm. St Michael's Athy welterweight Roy Sheahan will be first into the ring for a quarter final meeting with Latvian Dmitris Sostaks.

Middleweight Darren Sutherland (St Saviours OBA) will also see last four action against Spains Matio Duro, and Irish captain Ken Egan (Neilstown Dublin) will also box in the quarter finals versus Imre Szello from Hungary.

Holy Trinity super heavyweight Cathal McMonagle will meet Mohammed Samoudi from France in the final bout of Thursday evenings session

in one of four 91+Kg quarter finals.