Boxing at 2022 Commonwealth Games: Results from Day 6, Carly McNaul and Reece Lynch progress to semi-finals

It was an action-packed day of boxing quarter-finals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games on Wednesday (3 July).

Those that won their fights today guaranteed themselves at least a bronze medal in Birmingham meaning the heat was immediately on as the boxers entered the ring.

It all began with a bang in the women's light flyweight (50kg) division where Northern Ireland's Carly McNaul eased to an unanimous points decision win over Sri Lanka’s Keshani Hansika.

There wasn’t much between the boxers in terms of class, but it was 2018 Commonwealth Games 52kg silver medallist McNaul’s intense work rate that made the difference.

She came into this event off the back of a victory in the Eindhoven Cup, and didn’t give the Sri Lankan a moment to settle from the first round to the last, scoring punches from all angles.

“I am aiming to get the gold here in Birmingham and don’t want to settle for less. It feels absolutely great. It's unbelievable. I got a fast start. I thought she was a much more come-forward fighter but she sat back a lot and let me dictate the pace. I was really relaxed in there, much more than I thought I would be,” McNaul said after.

"It gives me confidence knowing I have a medal in the bag but I've got to stay relaxed, stay calm and win the semi-final. My performance gives me more confidence. I'm boxing really well. I'm so relaxed and enjoying it. I know I can win this.”

Joining her in the semi-finals is India's Nitu Nitu, after Northern Irishwoman Nicole Clyde’s team threw in the towel in their bout.

Ghangas is seen by many in her home nation as the legendary Mary Kom’s successor, and will be tough to beat here in Birmingham.

READ: Top things to know about boxing at the 2022 Commonwealth Games

Joseph Commey of Ghana put on a defensive masterclass to win his men’s featherweight (57kg) quarter-final against New Zealand’s Alex Mukuka.

Commey’s hair is dyed gold to match his medal ambitions here in Birmingham. 

The 19-year-old used his unbelievably long range to full effect, landing long shots while Mukuka helplessly swung and missed from a distance.

Scotland’s Reece Lynch produced the performance the day, defeating men’s welterweight (63kg) reigning champion Jonas Junias in their quarter-final.

Lynch unsettled the Namibian by boxing at close quarters and keeping out of reach on the counter. The increasingly frustrated Junias was swinging at fresh air and was given a warning for a late shot after the bell in the second round.

It was pure entertainment for the crowd, as Lynch started showboating and looking away from his opponent.

Earlier this year he became Scotland’s first ever world medallist when he won bronze in Belgrade, and he is surely the favourite for gold here.

"It was certainly one of my best performances. Junias was pressuring me, so I had to throw long shots to keep out of his punching distance, otherwise he would have kept coming,” Lynch said after.

“Jonas is a top boy. Because of his awkward, tricky style I had to be on my best to beat him. I’m buzzing that I was."

World silver medallist Alcinda Panguane of Mozambique overpowered Cameroon’s Clotilde Essiane in a thrilling women’s light middleweight (70kg) quarter-final.

Both fighters were roared on by their respective teammates and fans for the contest, which created a cauldron atmosphere as Essiane took the first round.

Panguane came out swinging in the second round, and despite taking some heavy punches, evened the contest at one round each.

The Mozambique athlete used that momentum to dominate the third round, and was awarded the win by split decision 3-2.

The loudest contest of the afternoon session was between England’s Lewis Richardson and Billy le Poullain of Guernsey in the men’s middleweight (75kg) quarters.

European silver medallist Richardson had to weather an early storm from his aggressive opponent, before unleashing a brutal flurry of jabs at the end of the second round that resulted in a standing eight-count for Le Poullain.

The bout took an interesting turn in the third with both boxers trading huge blows, but ultimately Richardson was able to finish the job with his piercingly accurate jab.

Read: England boxer Delicious Orie: "You don't have to be from the street in order to make it”

The evening opened with a hotly contested fight in the women’s minimum-weight division.

Lethabo Bokamoso Modukanele of Botswana opened brightly over her opponent Nadeeka Pushpakumari Pushpa of Sri Lanka taking the approval of four of the five judges.

But the Asian boxing championship bronze medallist came alive in the second showboating as she tried to engage her opponent. She took the round 4-1.

With everything on the line in the third round there was very little difference between the two until Modukanele landed a punch to produce an intervention from the referee. It was quickly followed by a second standing of eight and ultimately swung the fight in favour of the boxer from Botswana. The bout ended with a win on split decision 4-0 to Modukanele.

Heavily favoured world champion Zareen Nikhat of India used her expert balance and fast hands to dominate Wales' Helen Jones in an unanimous quarter-final win in the women's light flyweight. Her right hand proved particularly devastating to the Welshwoman.

"It was a great fight and she was really good. I am really happy with the way I boxed," Nikhat said after. "That has confirmed a medal for me but it is not the end. The end is when I win the gold on Sunday.

"I am very excited to be in a semifinal but that is only half the story. I’m here to win and in a one-on-one with anyone at my weight I will come out of top."

Nikhat will meet Stubbley in the semis.

Young Canadian hot shot Keoma-ali Al-Ahmadieh got the better of Guyana's Keevin Allicock on split decision 4-1 in the men's fly.

The first round went the 19-year-old's way before the Guyanese took the second. But at the ring of the final bell, it was the two-time Canadian champion that had all the judges on his side to secure at least a bronze medal.

He sets up a meeting with classy Northern Ireland boxer Jude Gallagher who defeated Pakistan's Ilyas Hussain in the previous bout.

The unorthodox Louis Richarno Colin of Mauritius sent home favourite Joe Tyers packing from the competition after a sensational bout in the men's light welterweight division.

The opening round went the way of the Englishman who held his form well but it was all Colin in the second.

Drawing blood from his English opponent Colin continued to target the freshly emerged weak spot to win the judges over, and put all the heat on the third round.

It was fierce and fiery but a cracking right hand to the Tyers' face executed sublimely by the Mauritian forced the referee to give the man from England a standing eight. The punch turned out to be a decisive blow and, with Tyers still bleeding, Colin took the win on split decision, 4-1.

There was a long wait before Rosie Eccles found out she was triumphant on a split verdict over Lovlina Boroghain in the women's middleweight contest. The Olympic bronze medallist from Tokyo 2020 lost the favour of the judges in the third round enough to hand the victory to the reigning Commonwealth Games silver medallist.

In almost a reverse scenario, Canadian world champion Tammara Thibeault needed only the first round to win her quarter-final bout. Her opponent, Hepseba Angel of the Cayman Islands, took to counts of eight before the referee intervened and stopped the contest.

South Africa's Simnikiwe Bongco produced a significant upset in the men's middleweight division when he unanimously defeated Grenada's Kemrond Moses.

The 21-year-old, who is making his second ever international appearance at the Commonwealth Games, bobbed and weaved his way around the southpaw's height advantage making full use of his punishing left hook to earn the judges' favour.

He will face tough prospect Callum Peters of Australia in the semi-finals. The 19-year-old, also making his debut at the Games in Birmingham, won his quarter-final via second round stoppage.

The crescendo of the night came in the men's light heavyweight contest. Those inside the NEC's Hall 4 were on their feet as England's Aaron Bowen and Indian Ashish Kumar traded blow after a blow in a thrilling bout.

Kumar took the first round, while Bowen took the second meaning everything was left to fight for in the third.

Sensing the occasion both boxers upped the intensity urged on by the vocal crowd. Neither backed out as one punch was met with another. In the end, indicating just how much energy had been invested into the bout, the Indian fell to his knees as the master of ceremonies announced the home prospect had won on split decision, 4-1.

2022 Commonwealth Games: Boxing results day six

Women's minimum-weight quarter-finals:

• Priyanka Dhillon (CAN) won 4-1 over Christine Ongare (KEN)
• Nitu Nitu (IND) won on abandoned contest over Nicole Clyde (NIR)
• Lethabo Bokamoso Modukanele (BOT) won 4-0 over Nadeeka Pushpakumari Pushpa (SRI)
• Demi-Jade Resztan (ENG) won 5-0 over Margaret Tembo (ZAM)

Women's light flyweight quarter-finals:

• Carly McNaul (NIR) won 5-0 over Keshani Hansika (SRI)
• Teddy Nakimuli (UGA) walkover Sara Haghighat-Joo (SLE)
• Savanna Alfia Stubley (ENG) won 5-0 over Yetunde Egunjobi (NGR)
• Zareen Nikhat (IND) won 5-0 over Helen Jones (WAL)

Men's featherweight quarter-finals:

• Joseph Commey (GHA) won 5-0 over Alex Mukuka (NZL)
• Hussam Uddin Mohammed (IND) won 4-1 over Tryagain Morning Ndevelo (NAM)
• Jude Gallagher (NIR) won 5-0 over Ilyas Hussain (PAK)
• Keoma-ali Al-Ahmadieh won 4-1 over Keevin Allicock (GUY)

Men's light welterweight quarter-finals:

• Reese Lynch (SCO) won 5-0 over Jonas Junias Jonas (NAM)
• Wyatt Sandford (CAN) won 4-1 over Joshua Tukamuhebwa (UGA)
• Louis Richarno Colin (MRI) won 4-1 over Joseph Tyers (ENG)
• Abdul Wahib Omar (GHA) won 4-1 over Alston

Women's light middleweight quarter-finals:

• Alcinda Helena Panguane (MOZ) won 3-2 over Clotilde Essiane (CMR)
• Kaye Frances Scott (AUS) won 5-0 over Zainab Keita (SLE)
• Eireann Cathlin Nugent (NRI) won 4-0 over Jodie Charlotte Wilkinson (ENG)
• Rosie Eccles (WAL) won 3-2 over Lovlain Borgohain (IND)

Women's middleweight quarter-finals:

• Rady Adosinda Gramane (MOZ) won 5-0 over Kerry Davis (ENG)
• Jacinta Umunnakwe (NGR) walkover Mele Ula (TGA)
• Caitlin Anne Parker (AUS) won 5-0 over Elizabeth Adhiambo Andiego (KEN)
• Tammara Thibeault (CAN) won on RSC Hepseba Angel (CAY)

Men's middleweight quarter-finals:

• Lewis Richardson (ENG) won 5-0 over Billy le Poullain (GGY)
• Sam Hickey (SCO) won on RSC Adeyinka Benson (NGR)
• Callum Peters (AUS) won on RSC Desmond Cort Amsterdam (GUY)
• Simnikiwe Bongco (RSA) won 5-0 over Kemrond Moses (GRN)

Men's light heavyweight quarter-finals:

• Sean Lazzerini (SCO) won 5-0 over Keven Beausejour (CAN)
• Yusuf Lucasi Changalawe (TAN) won on RSC Arthur Langelier (LCA)
• Aaron Bowen (ENG) won 4-1 over Ashish Kumar (IND)
• Taylor Bevan (WAL) won 5-0 Jerone Ennis (JAM)