McLaughlin and Egan progress in World Championships

Willie McLaughlin and Ken Egan are just one bout away from at least a bronze medal apiece at the AIBA World Championships in Milan following last 16 wins this afternoon.

Both men are now through to Wednesday's quarter-finals.

Donegal welterweight McLaughlin staged a stunning comeback to oust Georgian, Jvania Kakhabev and Dublin southpaw Egan upped the tempo in the final round to see off the challenge of Columbian light heavyweight Jeysson Monroy Varela.

McLaughlin was 3-0 down at the end of the first round of his 69Kg decider but stuck to his task to level affairs at 5-5 at the conclusion of the second - Kakhabev didn't do himself any favours in this round as he ceded two points after receiving a public warning for pushing.

McLaughlin then landed the only two clean shots of the final frame to seal a remarkable reversal.

Egan was 3-1 ahead at the end of the first versus Varela.

But the Columbian leveled affairs twice in the second leaving the 2008 Olympic Games silver medalist with just a one-point advantage going into the third.

However, once Egan upped the pace in the final frame he scored eight points without reply.

Both Irish boxers' quarter-final opponents will be confirmed shortly.

Cavan bantamweight John Joe Nevin will be in the ring at around 8.30pm tonight.