Tremendous body shots paved the way for Derry’s Connor Coyle to make it through to the quarterfinals of the middleweight division at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow earlier today.

The St. Joseph’s ABC men is just one fight away from a medal place after he won on points over Guyana’s Dennis Thomas.

Having won his first fight against Lungile Dyamdeki of Lesotho comfortably, Coyle was brimming with confidence and he showed his class again in a display of power and skill against his outclassed opponent.

Despite his opponent having a height advantage, Coyle showed he was not intimidated and he went about his job spectacularly well, never wavering throughout the three rounds.

His body punches were accurate as he caught Thomas time and time again and he was awarded the first round unanimously by the judges.

Thomas fought back strongly in the second round and edged the decision, setting up a winner takes all final round.

But Coyle stepped up to the plate again and again used his body shots to get the decision and ultimately the victory.

Coyle now faces 25-year-old southpaw Siphiwe Lusizi on Wednesday, his final obstacle to Coyle winning a Commonwealth medal.

Meanwhile, fellow Derry boxer Sean McGlinchey, from Oakleaf ABC, is in action tomorrow and will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Coyle.

Having beaten Jamaican Cheavan Clarke, McGlinchey must now face 31-year-old Elly Ajowi Ochola from Kenya.

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