By Mark Staniforth, PA Sport

David Haye apologised to England's head coach Ian Irwin on Monday night for the manner of his withdrawal from the Commonwealth Games boxing team.

Irwin was furious that heavyweight Haye failed to go through normal channels when he discovered he had sustained a bicep injury during Friday night's first round win over Pakistan's Shaukat Ali.

Instead of consulting team officials, Haye jumped on a plane back to London and discovered the extent of his injury after an MRI scan at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

Haye's decision to resign from the tournament was officially announced on Monday morning, with his quarter-final against Canadian Jason Douglas scheduled for Tuesday morning.

Haye, who had been a red-hot favourite to claim gold, insisted: "I apologised to Ian for not telling him what was going on.

"I know I was out of order but I didn't think it was a major injury and I thought they were going to tell me it was nothing and I'd go back and no-one would know I was gone.

"But I had the scan and I knew I was out of the tournament and I thought, 'what am I am going back for?' I wanted to stay there with my family and get my head straight."

Haye said he sustained the injury in the course of throwing a right hook in the second round. When he felt pain 10 minutes later he thought it was just bruising.

Irwin, who was in his corner, said he knew nothing about the injury until he heard the news of Haye's withdrawal on Sunday.

Irwin said: "I only found out his decision on Sunday. It was not the best way to handle the situation but elite athletes don't always do what you want them to do.

"We have got the best possible medical facilities on site here. If there is somebody else who can provide better advice in the appropriate area then I'm prepared to listen but there is a contract signed and a channel he has got to go through."

Haye admitted he was known as "a bit of a rebel" and said that if the same thing happened again "I would probably do the same thing.

He said he would remain with the England team for the duration of the Games to cheer on the remaining nine competitors before going home to consider his future.

Haye added: "I'm gutted. I sacrificed so much for this tournament. I focused everything and there was no way I was going to lose.

"I even considered fighting with just one hand but long-term all it takes is another shot and I could have ruptured my arm and I might have needed surgery. I was not going to risk my future for the Commonwealth Games."

Light-flyweight Darran Langley put a smile back on the team's faces with a gruelling 24-19 victory over unlucky Northern Irishman Paul Baker.

Croydon 20-year-old Langley said: "He was a tough fighter and even though I tried to stick to my boxing I got caught by a couple of shots.

"I started slowly but I never thought I was training. It was good to get the first one out of the way."

St Helens middleweight Steven Birch got underway in style with a comprehensive 32-21 win over Northern Ireland's Conall Carmichael.

The 20-year-old started slowly but gradually increased his pace and connected with two strong left hooks in the second round.

The lanky Carmichael struggled to find his range and Birch's precise left-hand carried him to an ultimately comfortable victory.

Birch said: "I'm quite pleased but I haven't boxed for four or five months because of my preparations so I was nowhere near 100 per cent - I would say about 70.

"I didn't know much about him and it took a while to get used to him. It was great boxing in front of my friends and family in such a big event.

"I've boxed in the European juniors before but that was not half as big as this is."

Carmichael's defeat was another blow to the beleaguered Northern Irish team, which prepared for the Games with a trip to Cuba but which can now boast one solitary victory from 10 contests.

Birch next faces Scotland's Stevie McGuire with a medal guaranteed for the winner.

The Glenrothes man rounded off the afternoon session by outclassing Trinidad's Simeon Prince with 24 seconds left in the third round.

McGuire took a while to figure out his crude opponent but finished him off comfortably and said: "I can't wait to fight Birch because he is the man to beat. Both our styles are similar so it should be a great fight."

And McGuire admitted the thrill of being part of the close-knit Scottish Games squad was spurring him on.

"All of us have been in awe of it since the opening ceremony," he added. "That was breathtaking and it is an honour to be a part of such a great squad."

England captain Steven Bell scored a conclusive second round win over Trinidad's Devon Jones to move into the quarter-finals of the featherweight competition.

The 27-year-old home city favourite unloaded a right hand which forced Jones to take a standing count in the first round and two more right hands grabbed him a comprehensive 26-11 win on the 15-point system.

Bell said his team had been untroubled by the controversy surrounding David Haye's withdrawal and added: "I feel like I've gained 11 brothers here.

"We've all been living in each other's pockets for so long and they were all here shouting their heads off for me. It is the best team I've ever been involved in.

"All my friends and family were here as well and it's been fantastic. I couldn't wait to get into the ring after three days just watching and now I can't wait for my quarter-final."

And Liverpool light-middleweight Paul Smith also went through with a third round stoppage of Foster Nkodo of Cameroon.

Smith said: "My strength has improved a lot and I'm really pleased with my form and confident I can get a medal."

Scottish light-middle Craig McEwan coasted to victory over Ulric Caramba-Coker of Sierra Leone, outclassing his opponent with 45 seconds remaining in the second round.

And Welsh middleweight Michael Allen is also through after an equally convincing second round success over Warren Pugeva of the Solomon Islands.