Lionhearts trail France after quarter-final first leg

The Lionhearts were defeated 3-2 after five bouts, with Conor Loftus and David Nyika registering wins to keep British hopes alive.

Lightflyweight Galal Yafai and bantamweight Peter McGrail lost the first two bouts of the night in Paris, before Loftus score the Lionhearts' first point in his lightwelterweight clash with Hassan Amzile.

However, Luka Plantic came out second best in his middleweight encounter with Rachid Achoui, who produced a monstrous performance in the fourth and fifth rounds, forcing the referee to call time on the match, ensuring the hosts would end the night on top.

But ahead of next Saturday's return clash at York Hall, heavyweight fighter Nyika powered his way to victory over French counterpart Kevin Kuadjovi to reduce the night's arrears to 3-2.

Sportsbeat 2017