Brilliant Charlie Edwards proves an instant Euro hit
Charlie Edwards has won a European Championship medal at his first senior event for GB Boxing.
The light-flyweight from Croydon is one of four guaranteed medallists in the British camp after defeating last year's runner-up, Spain's Jose Kelvin Nevin in the quarter-finals.
Edwards, the rising star of British amateur boxing and now a genuine medal contender for London 2012, produced a stunning final round to win 16-13. The 18-year-old said: "I'm obviously delighted to come to my first senior major and pick up a medal, especially beating the silver medallist from last year.
"But I've got a semi-final to box now and I don't want the tournament to finish here. It's great being part of this team and hopefully some of us go right through to the finals on Saturday."
Edwards, who now faces Azerbaijan's Salman Alizada, was joined in the semi-finals by fellow Englishman Tom Stalker and Welsh duo Andrew Selby and Fred Evans.
However, there was a shock defeat for Luke Campbell, generally regarded as Britain's best bet for Olympic gold next year, in the bantamweight division.
The Hull boxer lost 12-9 to Turkey's Furkan Ulas Memis in Ankara but GB Boxing officials questioned the scoring in a contentious final round.
A spokesman for the British camp said: "The Turk took a one-point lead into the last round and, despite throwing very few punches, came away with a 12-9 victory in a bout it seems Luke was not destined to win."
