BIRTLEY boxer Pat McCormack booked a place at this summer’s Olympics in Rio as he progressed to the semi-finals of the World Qualifying Event in Azerbaijan.

McCormack, who fights at light welterweight, missed out on an Olympic spot at both the World Championships and a previous qualifying event in Turkey, and travelled to Baku knowing he had to make the last four to secure a place on Team GB.

He progressed through the early rounds of the competition without too much trouble, and was able to celebrate a guaranteed Olympic spot when he beat Hassan Amzile earlier today.

McCormack dominated all three rounds against his French opponent, and was awarded a unanimous 30-27 victory by the five ringside judges.

He will now fight India’s Manoj Kumar in the semi-finals of the competition, but with four boxers awarded an Olympic place, he has already realised his main objective of claiming an Olympic spot.

McCormack tweeted: "Can't believe it, I've qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Best feeling in the world when all the hard work and sacrifices pay off - absolutely chuffed to bits."

The North-Easterner will be determined to improve on his showing at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, when he was tipped as one of the pre-tournament favourites for gold, only to lose to Welshman Joe Cordina in the first round.

McCormack joins Hartlepool’s Savannah Marshall on Britain’s boxing squad for the Olympics, which start on August 5, with Sunderland’s Josh Kelly also hoping to qualify when he takes to the ring for a quarter-final bout this evening.