WALCOT boxer Patrick McDonagh advanced into the quarter finals of the European Youth Championships today with a comfortable points victory over Bulgaria’s Zdrako Popov, writes Dave Veysey.

The 17-year-old looked to box on the counter during the first round, slipping the Bulgarian’s advances and landing with southpaw right jabs and straight lefts.

As the contest wore on McDonagh grew in confidence, scoring with more straight lefts and rights, whilst landing with the occasional right hook for good measure.

During the final three minutes the more productive work again came from the Walcot boxer, and he was awarded a unanimous points victory by the three ringside judges.

In his first match last Sunday McDonagh beat Turkey’s number one Adem Furkan Avci, also on a unanimous points’ decision.

Avci was a formidable foe who won a bronze medal at the Youth Olympics last season.

The Turkish champion was strong and kept coming forward, but McDonagh controlled matters from the opening bell, to the final bell, countering with fast combinations to win every round.

Next he faces the champion of Hungary, Richard Toth, in the quarter finals, and victory in this match will guarantee the Walcot boxer a bronze medal.