Victories for Yafai, Tom Stalker and Andrew Selby saw the trio advance to Friday’s semi-finals where they will join their British boxing colleagues Iain Weaver and Khalid Yafai who both made the semi-final stages after impressive wins earlier. 

The results mean that the British boxing team are now guaranteed a minimum of five bronze medals.

The last time Britain’s boxers won five medals at the European Championships was in 1947 when the final tally was one gold, two silver and two bronze.

In fact, the last time the team picked up more than two medals at the tournament was in 1975 and head coach Rob McCracken claimed that the record equalling medal haul bodes well for the team’s chances at the London 2012 Olympics.

He said: "We’ve got a young team and this is regarded as the toughest tournament in amateur boxing.

"It is a great boost for our hopes looking ahead to London 2012.

"It is going to get much harder on Friday but the lads are so full of confidence and they have all come on so well in training over the last few months."

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