LOWESTOFT'S Anthony Ogogo can still qualify for next year's Olympic Games after the Brazilian Esquiva Falcao Florentino reached the semi finals today (Wednesday).

After losing 17-12 on points to the Brazilian yesterday, Ogogo was understandably 'gutted' according to his Nivana ABA coach John Cremin - but now he could be handed a lifeline provided Falcao makes the final of the World Amateur Boxing Championships, in Azerbaijan.

Ogogo would have automatically qualified for the Games had he reached today's quarter-finals in the tournament in Baku.

But now, under AIBA's qualification rules, if his victor Falcao reaches a place in the 75kg final, Ogogo will also qualify.

And he moved a step in the right direction today - after beating Danabek Suzhanov from Kazhakstan 13-10 in the quarters.

This victory means the Brazalian is now nine minutes away from a place in the final - which will also provide Ogogo with a dream ticket to next year's Olympics.

Falcao's opponent in Friday's semi final is tough Japanese fighter Ryota Murata - who has just beaten Commonwealth Games champion Ireland's Darren O'Neill 18-9 in the quarter finals, and he had earlier stopped the number one seed in the opening round of the competition.

If the Brazilian loses out on Friday and fails to reach the final, Ogogo will have to qualify by competing at next year's European Championships in Turkey in April.