Barnes progresses in Olympic qualifiers

Irish boxer Paddy Barnes is now just one fight away from London 2012.

The Belfast light-flyweight has won his last-16 fight at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Turkey this evening.

Barnes was trailing Hungarian Istvan Ungvari by four points to two after the opening round, but he forced his opponent into a standing count in round two before he was declared the winner.

Meanwhile, David Oliver Joyce is also just one victory away from a place in the squad for London 2012.

The Athy lightweight beat Artur Bril of Germany by 22 points to 14 in today's last-16 bout and will now fight Evaldas Petrauskas of Lithuania for an Olympic spot tomorrow.

Earlier the Ireland head coach Billy Walsh also revealed that Joe Ward could still get nominated as a wildcard for London 2012 by the European authorities, despite yesterday's controversial defeat.

Walsh says that the teenager is the highest-ranked fighter in his division not to qualify, but he's also admitted that it's still a long shot for Westmeath light heavyweight.