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Belfast boxer Paddy Barnes claimed the Irish team's first medal at the Beijing Olympics after a quarter-final win over Poland's Lukasz Maszczyk on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old light-flyweight was level with Maszczyk after the first round but pulled clear in the remaining three rounds to earn an 11-5 victory.
Barnes is assured of a bronze medal but he will fight for gold if he beats Zou Shiming in Friday's semi-finals.
Dublin's Kenny Egan later secured a second medal after a quarter-final win.
Egan produced a composed performance to defeat Brazil's Washington Silva 8-0 in their light-heavyweight encounter to set up a semi-final encounter with Britain's Tony Jefferies.
The Dubliner defeated Jefferies in the European Union Championship earlier this year.
Barnes enjoyed a 14-8 win over Ecuador's Jose Luis Meza in his first fight on Saturday and he produced an even better display in Tuesday's bout.
Maszczyk had defeated Barnes in the north Belfast man's first international contest two years ago but it was a very different outcome in Beijing.
The prize for Barnes is a showdown with Chinese star and world champion Zou Shiming.
"I knew if I boxed my fight and put him under pressure, he wouldn't last the pace," said a delighted Barnes.
"He was wrecked. I'm always a slow starter but after the first round, I was flying."
Barnes may be guaranteed a medal but he said that he is determined to win gold.
"I got A medal but I want THE medal, which is the gold.
"I can't wait to fight Zou Shiming. I want the gold and I know I can go further. But if not, I've got my medal."
Zou Shiming, who defeated Barnes in last year's World Championship quarter-finals, was impressive in his 9-4 win over Kazakhstan's Birzhan Zhakypov on Tuesday.
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Source & Video: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olym...ng/7570230.stm
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The 21-year-old light-flyweight was level with Maszczyk after the first round but pulled clear in the remaining three rounds to earn an 11-5 victory.
Barnes is assured of a bronze medal but he will fight for gold if he beats Zou Shiming in Friday's semi-finals.
Dublin's Kenny Egan later secured a second medal after a quarter-final win.
Egan produced a composed performance to defeat Brazil's Washington Silva 8-0 in their light-heavyweight encounter to set up a semi-final encounter with Britain's Tony Jefferies.
The Dubliner defeated Jefferies in the European Union Championship earlier this year.
Barnes enjoyed a 14-8 win over Ecuador's Jose Luis Meza in his first fight on Saturday and he produced an even better display in Tuesday's bout.
Maszczyk had defeated Barnes in the north Belfast man's first international contest two years ago but it was a very different outcome in Beijing.
The prize for Barnes is a showdown with Chinese star and world champion Zou Shiming.
"I knew if I boxed my fight and put him under pressure, he wouldn't last the pace," said a delighted Barnes.
"He was wrecked. I'm always a slow starter but after the first round, I was flying."
Barnes may be guaranteed a medal but he said that he is determined to win gold.
"I got A medal but I want THE medal, which is the gold.
"I can't wait to fight Zou Shiming. I want the gold and I know I can go further. But if not, I've got my medal."
Zou Shiming, who defeated Barnes in last year's World Championship quarter-finals, was impressive in his 9-4 win over Kazakhstan's Birzhan Zhakypov on Tuesday.
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Source & Video: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olym...ng/7570230.stm
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