One down, just four to go for Luke McCormack.
The 22-year-old was the first of Birtley’s boxing trio to take to the ring at the Commonwealth Games.
And the Washington star did not fluff his lines as he beat the rugged Kavuma Ssemujja in the round of 32 today.
The Ugandan tried to knock McCormack out of his stride, but Luke was unflappable, winning on all of the judges scorecards to set up a round of 16 tie on Sunday against Northern Ireland’s Sean McComb, who received a bye.
The European silver medallist must win five contests if he is to clinch the U64 kilo title and will be relieved to get the opening hurdle cleared with no mishaps.
Luke (pictured left above) will be followed into the Oxenford Studios venue on the Gold Coast by twin brother, Pat, and Calum French. They form a quarter of the England boxing side in Australia.
Pat boxes this Saturday at the round of 16 stage at welterweight, where he will meet the winner of the round of 32 bout between Grenada’s Jonathan Francois and Shane Bonifice, from the Seychelles.
French is the last of the Birtley trio to enter the ring. He will box Pakistan’s Ali Ahmad in the round of 16 on Monday. Like Pat, he must win four times to take gold.
It is the third time the club team-mates have been in the same international squad at a major tournament.
The triumvirate drew a blank at the World Championships in Hamburg last year, but, previous to that, Luke and Pat were runners-up at the European Championships in the Ukraine, where French brought home a bronze medal.
They are unbeaten in WSB action this year, with Luke winning twice and Pat and Calum one each.
