Rooney exits in Brazil while injury halts Gallagher

Belfast's Louis Rooney bowed out of the World Boxing Cup in Brazil as Morocco's Issam Bensayar scored a unanimous decision victory in their 50kg bout. Rooney was making his first appearance of the tournament, but was unable to get to grips with the speed and movement of Bensayar who moved into the quarter-finals. Southpaw Bensayar sprinted to the centre of the ring after the opening bell as he sought to make an early impression and his speed allowed him to do so with a flush right resulting in a standing count for Rooney.

While Rooney enjoyed some moments of his own, he was unable to level it up in the second with Bensayar's foot and hand speed allowing him to land a number of eye-catching shots. The trend continued in the third with Rooney saving some success up close, but the Moroccan was a step ahead to see out an impressive win. County Tyrone's Jude Gallagher's campaign ended in disappointment with injury forcing him to withdraw from his 60kg last 16 bout.

Gallagher, who defeated Kazakhstan's Zhanseri Kosherbayev on Monday, was scheduled to face USA's Salim Ellis-Bey, but was ruled out following a medical assessment. Evelyn Igharo lost out in her opening 70kg bout against Mexico's Citlallo Vanessa Ortiz. Igharo got the better of the opening round with her height and reach advantages coming into play, but Ortiz turned the tide in the second, forcing the pace and turning it into a brawl at close quarters.

A point deduction for Igharo ensured the Mexican held the upper hand going into the final round and she pushed on, producing the better quality to advance. Team Ireland's only success came earlier on Wednesday as Jenny Lehane advanced to the quarter-finals of the 54kg category with a unanimous decision win over Venezuela's Diana Mastre. The County Meath woman faces Serbia's Sara Cirkovic for a medal on Thursday.