David Oliver Joyce keeps his Rio bid on track in Turkey

European Olympic qualifiers: Michael O’Reilly eliminated by Finnish fighter

David Oliver Joyce is still on course for  a place in the Rio Olympics. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho
David Oliver Joyce is still on course for a place in the Rio Olympics. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

David Oliver Joyce is the latest Irish fighter to advance to the last-eight of the European Olympic qualifiers in Samsun, Turkey.

The three-time EU champion beat Otar Eranosyan of Georgia on Tuesday and is now two wins away from qualifying for Rio 2016.

Joyce, Ireland’s only AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) fighter besides Joe Ward, who has already qualified for Rio, won on a unanimous decision.

Team Ireland suffered a major setback though with the shock elimination of Michael O’Reilly, the number one seed in the middleweight class - beaten by Finland’s Ilari Kijala after a unanimous 3-0 decision.

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Later on Tuesday London 2012 Olympian Darren O’Neill fights Gabriel Richards of Sweden - O’Neill will be between the ropes shortly after 7pm (Irish time).

The top three boxers in each of the 10 weight divisions will qualify for Rio.

On Monday Belfast's Brendan Irvine came through his bout in the 52kg class, defeating Germany's Hamza Touba for a place in the last eight - although both Dean Walsh and Dean Gardiner were beaten earlier in the day.

All three of the Irish women's boxers in action on Monday - Ceire Smith, Christina Desmond and Katie Taylor - progressed to the last eight.