GB women boxing clever

Savannah Marshall and Natasha Jonas boosted their Olympic credentials at the London International Invitational.

Marshall and Jonas cruise into semis

Boxers Savannah Marshall and Natasha Jonas boosted their Olympic credentials at the London International Invitational on Friday. After a mixed start for Britain on Thursday both women secured impressive victories to book semi-final spots in the Olympic test event at the Excel Arena. Middleweight Marshall enjoyed a comprehensive 23-11 triumph over Australia's Naomi Fischer-Rasmussen in the 75kg category. The Hartlepool fighter forced her opponent to take a standing count in the third before running out an easy points winner. And light-welterweight Jonas was similarly impressive at 60kg, beating American Quanitta Underwood. 23-15. Nina Smith however was unable to make it a hat-trick of wins for Britain losing her quarter final bout 19-5 to Russian Olesya Gladkova in the 51kg category. In men's action, Martin Ward edged Samat Bashenov of Kazakhstan in a tight contest that ended with a 14-13 victory for the Briton. Ward eased to 5-2 up before Bashenov launched a fightback leaving just 9-8 up heading into the final session. But the Repton fighter kept his composure to clinch the victory and book his place in the last four.