London's Joe Joyce beaten in world semi-finals in Qatar
Monday 12 October 2015 21:08, UK
Joe Joyce bowed out of the World Amateur Boxing Championships in Qatar at the semi-final stage following a contentious points loss to Frenchman Tony Yoka.
The London super-heavyweight almost had Yoka out on his feet with a big left hook in the second round of their bout but all three judges scored unanimously in favour of his opponent.
His defeat means Joyce will take home a bronze medal but misses out on automatic qualification for next year's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Joyce was the last remaining member of the Great Britain team in Doha but there was better news for Ireland after light-heavyweight Joe Ward became the third squad member to book his place in Brazil.
Ward outpointed Uzbekistan's Elshod Rasulov to reach the final and joins Michael Conlan, who will bid to become Ireland's first male amateur boxing world champion when he fights in the bantamweight final on Wednesday.
Two-time Olympic bronze medallist Paddy Barnes has already secured his qualification for Rio after finishing top of the World Series of Boxing rankings earlier this year.
