Kurt Walker lost on a split decision in his bid for at least bronze in Tokyo this morning.
The Canal BC featherweight was edged out 3-2 by Duke Ragan of the USA.
The Ohio fighter took the first round 5-0 across the board, the American doing most of his scoring on the inside and showing good hand speed.
Walker, however, upped the pace and used hit and move tactics to take the second 3-2 to leave in all the play for going into the third.
The third round descended into a brawl with Walker, who needed attention to the cut over his right eye, losing out on the overall score to the American who has returned from the pro ranks where he has won all four of his paid fights.
The Lithuanian, Peruvian and Australian judges gave Ragan the nod, while the Algerian and Kazakhstani judges scored it for Walker.
“Tough, but it was a great fight,” Walker told RTÉ Sport.
“I knew he was going to wait for me. I pushed a little bit too late but I’m proud of myself. I won two rounds out of three.
“He had a good first round, that was it. I was trying to find my distance and so was he, he was just a bit sharper in the first and it won him the fight.
“Just so close.
“I’m proud of myself, I beat the world champion (Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov).
“I showed everyone back home how good I am. They only see us once every four years but a lot more people will know my name after these Olympics.”
Tokyo Olympics
July 24th
Last 32
57kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Jose Quiles (Spain) 5-0
July 25th
Last 32
81kg Emmet Brennan (Ireland) lost to Dilshod Ruzmetov (Uzbekistan) 0-5
July 26th
Last 32
52kg Brendan Irvine (Ireland) lost to Carlo Paalam (Philippines) 1-4
Last 16
57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) lost to Irma Testa (Italy) 0-5
July 27th
Last 16
69kg Aidan Walsh (Ireland) beat Albert Menque (Cameroon) 5-0
July 28th
Last 16
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Ireland) lost to Qian Li (China) 0-5
57kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Mirazizbek Mitzakhalilov (Uzbekistan) 4-1
July 30th
Last 16
60hk Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Rebecca Nicoli (Italy) 5-0
Quarter-final
69kg Aidan Walsh (Ireland) beat Mervin Clair (Mauritius) 4-1
August 1
Quarter-final
57kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) lost to Duke Ragan (USA) 2-3
Semi-final
69kg Aidan Walsh (Ireland) lost to Pat McCormack (Great Britain) (W/O)
(Walsh sustains an ankle injury)
August 3
Quarter-final
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) v Imane Khelif (Algeria)