Ireland's Kurt Walker says he's "devastated" after narrowly missing out on a medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The Lisburn boxer was beaten this morning in a gripping quarter-final by the USA's Duke Ragan, with Ragan taking a split decision 3:2 on the judges' scorecards.
Ragan was an emphatic winner of the opening round, before Walker claimed the second.
But after an extremely close third and final stanza, the American was deemed a narrow winner, guaranteeing himself a medal and moving on to the semi-final.
Speaking after the fight, Walker says his slow start was ultimately the difference between the fighters, but that he'll hold his head high after an impressive run to the last eight.
"I’m devastated but that’s boxing. 3-2, that’s the way it goes. I’ve done well in this tournament and I’m proud of myself.
"He just let me go. I knew he was super-fast so I wanted to see how much of his jab would get through but it didn’t. I knew I would be able to push the second and third, but I was just a bit too late," he said.
"I haven’t watched it back but I thought I was better in the second and third but it was so close. He took the first, I know he took the first. I thought the second could have been clear to me, but I don’t know. I haven’t watched it back. I might have been taking shots that I can’t remember.
"I wasn’t even supposed to be here a year ago. To come and dominate and show everyone back home how good I am. I’m proud.
"The first (round) was just a chess game and he was better. I’m not tired. I’m as fit as a fiddle. It was more him dragging me down, pulling but that’s smart stuff. He’s smart, he’s a professional, he knows what to do, he knows how to tidy up," Walker added.
Meanwhile, his fellow Antrim boxer Aidan Walsh has been confirmed as a bronze medalist in the welterweight division.
Walsh had been due to fight Pat McCormack of Team GB in the semi-finals this morning but was forced to withdraw due to the ankle injury he picked up while celebrating his quarter-final win.
Indeed are proud to support Team Ireland at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Indeed believes the world works better when people are given every opportunity to unleash their true talents. #TalentUnleashed
