Boxers Michael Conlan, Joe Ward take gold

Ireland claimed two gold medals at the EUBC Elite European Boxing Championships in Bulgaria on Saturday as Michael Conlan and Joe Ward both won their final bouts on unanimous decisions.

Conlan upgraded his silver medal from Minsk in 2013 to gold in Samokov on Saturday as he claimed victory over Britain's Qais Ashfaq.

The fight was a repeat of last year’s Commonwealth Games, where the Belfast fighter claimed gold, and he was always in control of the bout.

Starting in an orthodox stance, Conlan dodged his opponent’s attacks in the opening round before scoring heavily towards the end of the three minutes to take the verdict from all three scoring judges.

Ashfaq enjoyed a better second round, but struggled to land anything meaningful on Conlan, who took two of the three decisions from the judges.

Now fighting southpaw and using the ring brilliantly, Conlan frustrated his opponent to close out the contest, taking the final round from all three judges.

Ward made it two European golds with a stylish win over Dutch soldier Peter Mullenberg.

The 21-year-old from Moate was never in any trouble, keeping Mullenberg at a distance, while also picking off scoring shots in quick flurries.

Ward won the first round on all three judges’ scorecards. One judge handed Mullenberg a 10-9 win the second despite the Irish boxer again dominating.

An accidental clash of heads opened up a small cut above Ward’s left eye in the final three-minute round, but he finished strongly to confirm his victory and a second European gold following his win in Turkey in 2011, when he was just 17.