Northern Irish boxer Michaela Walsh moved one step closer to back-to-back Commonwealth gold medals, after advancing through her semi-final this afternoon in Glasgow.
The 33-year-old, who won gold in Birmingham in 2022 and silver in Melbourne (2018) and Glasgow (2014) prior to this year’s games, defeated Fiji’s Jasmine Daunakamakama in the women’s 57kg semi-final on Friday afternoon.
Walsh was a convincing winner, taking all three rounds by unanimous 30-27 margin across the five judges’ scorecards.
She will now face India’s Jasmine Jasmine in Saturday morning’s final.
Earlier in the day, Kaci Rock gritted out a tight 3-2 victory over Scotland’s Caitlin Rainey to make the women’s 65kg final.
The 23-year-old, who is the daughter of former pro boxer Jim ‘The Pink Panther’ Rock, lost the first round before responding to take the match 3-2.
She will face off with England’s Sacha Hickey in Saturday’s deciding bout.
In the men’s draw, Jon McConnell secured his spot in the men’s 70kg final after a unanimous 5-0 victory over Scotland’s Sonny Kerr.
McConnell, who received a walkover in the quarter-final, made light work of his opponent and will now face Welsh fighter Orlando Holley-Sotomi in their final.
However there was no such joy for Garyn McAllister in the 90kg weight class, as he lost 5-0 to his own Welsh opponent, Connor Williams, and will have to settle for bronze.
Jude Gallagher also suffered a surprise loss to Tryagain Morning Ndevelo of Namibia in the 60kg weight class.
Ndevelo started strongly and took the first two rounds 3-2 and while the 2022 gold medal winner came back strongly in the final round, he lost out on a split decision.
Meanwhile, super-heavyweight Willie John McCartan withdrew from his scheduled semi-final with England’s Damar Thomas, due to an elbow injury; and will return with a bronze medal at the 90kg+ category.