Sean Mari to box for a European Championship medal after victory over Omer Ametovic in Armenia

Sean Mari will box for at least a bronze medal after defeating third seed Omer Ametovic at the European Championships in Armenia.

Flyweight Mari took the contest on a split 4-1 decision, and will return to the ring on Friday evening where a victory would assure him of a place in the last four.

The Dubliner was the first of four Irish boxers in action today, with team captain Adam Hession set to take on Vasile Usturoi this afternoon.

Hession is the fourth seed in the featherweight division and is fighting against the Belgium national champion.

Before that, Gabriel Dossen takes on Bulgaria's Mofid Rami Kiwan in the middleweight division.

JP Hale received a bye into the last 16 in the lightweight 60kg division and faces number three seed, Arslan Khatev from Finland for a place in the quarter-finals.