The IABA have lodged a protest on behalf of Moate BC light-heavyweight Joe Ward in Trabzon, Turkey.

Adam Nolan (red) in action

The Irish Amateur Boxing Association have lodged a protest at the result of Joe Ward’s last-16 bout with Bahran Muzaffer of Turkey tonight.

Muzaffer was controversially adjudged to have beaten Ward 18-15 in tonight’s light-heavyweight clash at the final Olympic qualifier for European male boxers in Trabzon.

IABA President Tommy Murphy, who said he believed  that Ward clearly won the contest, confirmed that the protest had been lodged.

It is expected that protest will be heard  tonight.

Earlier this evening, Belfast heavyweight Tommy  McCarthy convincingly beat Copla Alem (Bosnia & Herzegovina) 12-3 to progress to the quarter-finals.

But Tipperary super-heavyweight Con Sheehan  bowed out following a 17-12 reversal to Muhammer Erkan Aci of Turkey.

MacCarthy, who needs to win gold in Trabzon to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games, will meet Josepf Darmos (Hungary) on Wednesday.

In the afternoon session, Ireland experienced contrasting fortunes with Adam Nolan advancing but Ross Hickey losing out in Trabzon.

Bray BC welterweight Nolan, who will qualify for London if he reaches the 69kg final, posted a 14-9 decision over Poland’s Thomasz Kot.

But Hickey, who boxes out of the Grangecon BC, lost 24-11 to impressive Moldovan light-welterweight Dimitri Galagot.

Hickey’s reversal means that Ireland will not be represented at light- welterweight at the 2012 Olympic Games as the Trabzon tournament is the final Olympic qualifier for European (male) boxers.

Nolan will now meet Tamerlan Abdullayer of Azerbaijan in the last-eight on Wednesday. Abdullayer edged out  Simeon Chamov (Bulgaria) on a countback this afternoon.

AIBA European Olympic Qualifiers Trabzon, Turkey