By Mark Staniforth, PA Sport

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England were the beneficiaries of more outrageous fortune as three home boxers secured final places in the afternoon session at the MEN Arena.

Darren Barker ensured his crack at light-welterweight gold without throwing a punch after his Nigerian opponent defaulted through injury.

Paul Smith, who was fortunate enough just to be in the last four after a controversial quarter-final win yesterday, squeaked past gutsy Scot Craig McEwan by a single point.

And super-heavyweight David Dolan was the luckiest of the lot as he trailed 7-2 after just one minute and 34 seconds before his Welsh opponent Kevin Evans was controversially ruled out by a nosebleed.

Evans, who gets a bronze which matches his achievement in Kuala Lumpur four years ago, is not the kind of man to kick up a stink.

But with as much anger as a God-fearing Christian such as himself could muster he said: "My nose has bled in all my fights so far and I have been allowed to carry on.

"It was easy and I was even beginning to think about winning on the 15-point rule.

"The referee seemed to look out for it straight away. He didn't even let me go to my corner where they might have been able to stop the bleeding.

"Boxing is a contact sport - but I couldn't get that through to the referee."

Evans was led to the doctor after just one minute for an inspection and then again only nine seconds later.

Sensing the inevitable conclusion he began hurling bombs and had Dolan in trouble before he was stopped.

Sunderland man Dolan admitted: "It's not the best way to go through like that but that's the way it happens.

"I found it impossible to get into my rhythm because of all the stoppages and I knew it couldn't go on like that.

"I've got to the final after some pretty easy fights and I could have done with some extra rounds to get sharper. But it is going to be the biggest fight of my life."

Barker too said he felt a little let down after going through the motions of lacing on the gloves and headguard and clambering into the ring to have his arm raised.

Nigerian Davidson Emenogu pulled out this morning after injuring his ankle during a game of football in the athletes' village.

Barnet 20-year-old Barker will now face tough Ugandan Mohammed Kayongo with at least a silver medal in the bag.

Barker said: "I just felt really stupid being out there. It was a bit of a let down once I saw the size of the arena.

"I went through the same routine all day even when I got to the weigh-in and found out the Nigerian was 50-50.

"Now I'm in the final and I'm fighting a guy who is not in my category."

Smith's win over McEwan was a deserved one but the Liverpudlian was left clinging on at the end.

Smith was drawn into a tough fight by his more experienced opponent and admitted he had reached the gold medal match without producing anything like his best.

Smith said: "There is so much more to come from me. In all my bouts so far I haven't fought as well as I could.

"There is still a lot more in me which might come out for the final. I'm a bit tired and achey but I've got the buzz and I always do well in the big stage."

Disappointed McEwan said: "I started too slowly. I came back well and he's a tough fighter, but on another day I would have beaten him."