Team GB boxer Joe Joyce booked his spot in the quarter-finals of the 2015 European Games with a strong performance against Alexei Zavatin on Saturday.
Joyce had the Moldovan on the ground three times in the first round, which ultimately forced the referee to stop the fight following a dominant performance from the Englishman.
The 29-year-old was seeded second for the tournament in Azerbaijan, but is confident that he will claim gold and with it, a spot in the World Championships later this year.
Shortly after the emphatic display, Joyce spoke to Sports Mole.
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You seemed to go after your opponent very early on, was that the gameplan?
"Yeah, with three, three-minute rounds, you don't have much time as World Series of Boxing (five, three minute rounds) so instead of taking a round to check out my opponent, I shortened it down and got to work early.
"The video analysis before the fight certainly helped. I worked out where I could capitalise with my shots so everything went as planned."
You fight Lithuanian Mantas Valavicius in the next round. Are you expecting a tough fight?
"I do not think I will have too many problems!"
Both Luke McCormack and Muhammad Ali went out of the competition today. As almost the 'daddy' of the group, will you offer some advice for the inexperienced pair?
"Yeah of course. They are both really young and this is their first major tournament so it is obviously a learning curve for them. Obviously it is disappointing to lose, we all want to win, but in the long run it will bring them on and they will be more wise the next time they go into a tournament."
Matt Law
