(Image: Broadhurst has her hand raised in victory today)
Amy Broadhurst advanced to the last eight of the European Women’s Elites after posting a unanimous decision over Czech lightweight Dominika Ciklova in Madrid this afternoon.
The Dundalk southpaw and World Elite quarter-finalist will now meet Russia’s 2014 World Elite champion Anastasia Belikova, the No. 3 seed in the Spanish capital, for at least bronze in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Finland’s No. 1 seed and current European Elite lightweight champion Mira Potkonen, who beat Katie Taylor at Rio 2016, edged England’s Paige Murney on a split decision today to book her ticket into the last eight.
Broadhurst picked off more than enough clean shots against the constant marauding of Ciklova to earn a 30-37,30-27,30-27,30-27, 29-28 verdict from a competitive 60kg encounter.
The pick of the Broadhurst’s punches were a body shot in the opening round and a neat uppercut as the battling Czech orthodox was advancing in the third.
Meantime, Roscommon middle Aoife O’Rourke meets Tetiana Petrovich of Ukraine with at least bronze up from grabs at approximately 3.45pm (Irish time) today.
Ceire Smith, who recorded an inside the distance win last evening, is in against Turkish flyweight and No. 1 seed Naz Buse Cakiroglu at 5.30pm.
“I’m really looking forward to it, I have nothing to lose and all to gain,” said Smith after Sunday’s win over Hungary’s Krisztina Beri.
Macroom southpaw Christina Desmond boxes tomorrow.
European Women’s Elite Championships Madrid, Spain August 22/31
August 26
Last 16
51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) v Naz Buse Cakiroglu (Turkey)
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Ireland) beat Dominika Ciklova (Czech Republic) 5-0
Q/Final
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Ireland) v Tetiana Petrovich (Ukraine)
August 27
Last 16
69kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) v Anna Van Leeuwen (Netherlands)
August 28
Q/Final
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Ireland) v Anastasia Belokova (Russia)
August 25
Last 32
51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) beat Krisztina Beri (Hungary) RSC2
Irish squad
51kg: Ceire Smith (Cavan/Virginia)
60kg: Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan)
69kg: Christina Desmond (Fr Horgan’s)
75kg: Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea)
Team manager: JP Kinsella
Coaches: Zaur Antia and Damain Kennedy
Physio; David Cooke