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10.08.12

Mullingar's John Joe Nevin now has a chance of following in the footsteps of Katie Taylor by winning a London 2012 gold medal.

Nevin saw off the determined opposition of Cuba's Lazaro Alvarez Estrada in the bantamweight final in the Excel arena. He won the fight 19-14 and will face either Britain's Luke Campbell or Japanese fighter Satoshi Shimizu.

The final will be held tomorrow night at 8.45.

Unfortunately, the afternoon also saw Paddy Barnes lose his fight after his heartbreakingly close match against Chinese World Champion Shiming Zou.

The two fighters were even after three rounds and Zou was declared the winner after a count-back from the judges. A count-back collates the punches deemed closest to being scores from across the fight. Zou won this count 45-44.

Barne's will now receive a bronze medal and the knowledge that he came achingly close to beating a fighter who demolished him 15-0 when they met in Beijing four years ago.