Liam Davies sure of a Euro medal

Liam Davies ensured he'll walk away from the European Schoolboy Championships with a medal after putting on a dazzling boxing display to derail the title hopes of Belarus dangerman Dmitriy Abanov.

The Donnington fighting starlet staged a masterclass in the nobel art to outscore Abanov 4-1 yesterday in the cauldron heat of Yambol, Bulgaria.

Victory earned the 14-year-old, fighting at 38.5 kilos, a place in today's semis against tall southpaw Araz Gulmammadov, from Azerbaijan.

It also guaranteed the Sutherland College pupil a bronze medal, at the very least.

Speaking after the contest, Liam said: "I'm enjoying it, but it's very hot.

"Abanov kept coming forward, which suited me - that's how I like them. At the end, the trainer said, 'if you box like that, you can go all the way'.

"Gulmammadov is a lot taller and a southpaw, and I've done OK against southpaws."

Abanov, considered one of the favourites for gold, had the edge in power, but Davies' cool boxing proved decisive.