Joe Ward has guaranteed his third medal at the World Boxing Championships.
He becomes the first Irish male boxer to win three medals in a row at the Championships. Two years ago, he was a silver medalist in Doha, while he won bronze in 2013 in Kazakhstan.
Ward guaranteed at least a bronze medal in Hamburg, after a unanimous decision win over the Belorussian Mikhail Dauhaliavets in the light-heavyweight quarter-finals.
The three-time European champion now faces Yerik Alzhanov or Bektemir Melikuziev in the semi-finals. Cuba's Julio César La Cruz has beaten Ward in the previous two World Championships, and remains on the opposite side of the draw.
Ward is Ireland's sole remaining boxer in the World Championships and guarantees a medal for team for the fifth World Championships in row.
Third seed going into the light-heavyweight competition, Ward has lived up to his billing by guaranteeing at least a bronze medal.
Joe Ward, different class
— Kevin Byrne (@KevByrneBox) August 29, 2017
Joe Ward guaranteed at least bronze at Worlds. Third Worlds' medal, sixth major medal in total. Only 23.
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) August 29, 2017
