The 21-year-old had started the contest well, taking the first round, but visibly struggled as the Briton raised his game. 

In the closing stages of the final round, Gimbatov appeared powerless to defend himself against Joyce as the 29-year-old Londoner rained punches on him.

He cut an exhausted figure by the time bell rung to signal the end of the contest. 

After the match, venue medical manager Gunay Ibrahimov revealed that Gimbatov had needed treatment, causing him to miss the medal ceremony. 

"We sent the boxer to hospital No.1 for examination by a neurologist for possible head trauma and concussion," said Ibrahimov.

"The CT scans have revealed no major findings, but the boxer is being kept in hospital overnight for observation."

Joyce, tipped as a potential Olympic medallist at Rio 2016, expressed concern for his opponent's welfare but he did not allow it to take away his satisfaction at a job well done. 

"It feels great," he said. 

"Brilliant.

"This is really good stuff.

"I won the European Games and became a part of history.

"The medal feels quite heavy.

"It's a great medal and a great moment."

During the evening session there were double gold triumphs for Azerbaijan and Russia but Italy suffered four defeats and had to settle for silver medals in each of their finals.

Collazo Sotomayor became light welterweight champion by beating number one seed Vincenzo Mangiacapre. 

Sotomayor, nephew of the world record high jumper Javier, has been living here for two years after being spotted by an Azeri coach and relocating from Cuba. 

He now has his sights set on a World Championship gold medal in Doha later this year. 

"The fight went as I expected; I won," he said.

"I am planning to train for the World Championships.

"I devote this (medal) to the Azerbaijani people.

"They have known me for a long time as I box in Gabala club.

"I am very thankful for the support from the stands.

"Their rooting encouraged me in the ring."

Vincenzo Picardi is an experienced fighter, who has taken bronze in five major championships at flyweight, including an Olympic bronze at Beijing 2008. 

But the 31-year-old from  Casoria was second best to Azerbaijan's Elvin Mamishzada, eight years his junior and clearly a precocious talent destined for big things. 

Russia's two victories both came in the opening two women bouts of the evening and each were against Italian opponents. 

Elena Saveleva was too much for Marzia Davide.

After losing the first round, Saveleva  took the next three to win the bantamweight title.

It was a similar story in the light welterweight final where Valentina Alberti found Anastasiia Beliakove too much of a handful.

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