GB duo close in on World medals

AIBA WORLD BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Venue: Milan, Italy Date: 1-12 September
Coverage: Highlights on BBC Two and BBC Sport website (UK only), Sunday 1500-1600 BST

Yafai is hoping to go back to Britain with a medal

Blackpool teenager Scott Cardle reached the World Championships light-welterweight quarter-finals with an 11-3 win over Frenchman Alexis Vastine.

He now faces Cuba's Iglesias Sotolongo in the last eight on Wednesday with a guarantee of a medal if he wins.

Birmingham flyweight Khalid Yafai will also fight for a medal against Germany's Ronny Beblik after a 14-5 win over Kazakh Olzhas Sattibayev.

Welsh featherweight Craig Evans was beaten 15-1 by Vasyl Lomachenko.

Scottish heavyweight Steve Simmons joined Evans after he lost 11-1 to Ukraine's European champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Ireland flyweight Declan Gerraghty and compatriot, Darren O'Neill, also suffered defeats in Milan.

Cardle revealed afterwards that competing at the Worlds was the last thing on his mind a month ago.

606: DEBATE How do you think the Brits have fared so far?

The 19-year-old contracted swine flu on a out-of-training holiday in Spain and went into isolation for a week on his return to Britain.

"I felt like I was dying," he said after beating the Beijing bronze medallist.

"I was locked away with a Tamiflu prescription and I lost four kilos.

"But the experience made it much easier for me to make the weight for Milan when I got back in training."

He added: "If anyone had told me when I was in bed that I'd go to the Worlds let alone fight for a medal I'd have had a good laugh.

"But I've gone out there with nothing to lose and it's really paid off."

Meanwhile, Yafai is confident about his chances in his division.

"I felt great in there today but I've got so much more to give," said the Birmingham boxer.

It would be a dream to get hold of a World Championship medal Khalid Yafai

"I can go up a few gears yet. It would be a dream to get hold of a World Championship medal and that's all I'm focusing on right now."

On Saturday, European bantamweight champion Luke Campbell, Tommy Stubbs and Welshman Andrew Selby all crashed out on Saturday.