Bateson’s graduation earns European medal

The 19-year-old, who was only elevated to the Great Britain podium squad two months ago, scored a unanimous points win over Ukraine’s Vadym Kudryakov to move into the semi-finals.

Bateson will next face top seed David Ayrapetyan of Russia, who won European gold in 2006 and also boasts Olympic and world medals to his name.

But Bateson said: “I’m confident and there’s no-one here that I can’t beat. I’ve come here to get gold, so hopefully I’ll go all the way.

“I’m really enjoying it, feeling very relaxed and soaking it all up. It’s great to be mixing it with the best in Europe and I believe I’m up there with these guys and hopefully I can prove that.”

Great Britain guaranteed a second medal when London super-heavyweight Joe Joyce – who, like Bateson, was promoted to the podium squad after the 2012 Olympics – outpointed Georgia’s Mikheil Bakhtidze.

But Liverpool light-welterweight Sam Maxwell saw his medal dream dashed as he was outpointed by Armen Zakaryan of Russia.

Ireland’s two-time Olympic bronze medallist Paddy Barnes remains on course for a potential light-flyweight final showdown with Bateson – who trains in Sheffield – after he beat Istvan Ungvari of Hungary to reach the last four.

Olympic silver medallist John Joe Nevin is also through after beating another Hungarian, Krisztian Nagy, while middleweight Jason Quigley guaranteed Ireland’s third medal with a points win over Germany’s experienced Stefan Haertel.

But Belfast light-heavyweight Tommy McCarthy fell short as he was outpointed by Teymur Mammadov of Azerbaijan.