Lisa O’Rourke secures medal at European U23 boxing championships

The Roscommon native overcame Anastasija Lukajic in their quarter-final bout in Sofia on Tuesday.

BRONZE AT LEAST: Irelans's Lisa O'Rourke  celebrates victory. Photo: IBA via Sportsfile

Lisa O’Rourke ensured she will collect at least a bronze medal from the European U-23 boxing championships after she secured a place in the semi-finals on Tuesday evening.

The Roscommon native overcame Anastasija Lukajic in their quarter-final bout in Sofia, sealing the impressive victory in the second round after the referee issued three standing eight counts to her opponent.

O’Rourke will now face Ukraine’s Anastasiia Saraniuk in the semi-final on Thursday where another triumph would ensure she will collect at least a silver medal on the podium.

The opening round against Lukajic saw O’Rourke use her reach to great effect as her probing jabs caused problems for her Serbian opponent.

The Castlerea boxer landed a crunching jab and right hand combination inside the opening minute while three firm right hands inside the closing 30 seconds saw her back her overwhelmed opponent to the ropes.

All five judges scored the first round in O’Rourke’s favour.

The second round saw Lukajic try and pin O’Rourke in the corner but the Roscommon boxer stayed composed. O’Rourke landed two right hands upstairs, which prompted the first standing eight count midway through the second round.

O'Rourke targeted the body of the Serb and found her opening with less than 30 seconds left in the round as a left hook and straight right hand led to a flurry of punches that saw the referee give Lukajic another standing count.

Once the action commenced O’Rourke piled forward with the referee stepping in again and stopping the contest to seal at least a bronze medal for the Irish boxer.