Joe Ward versus Carlos Mina – Rio 2016.
Joe Ward bowed out of the Olympics on a controversial split decision in Rio tonight.
The Moate BC southpaw, who was making his Olympic debut, was adjudged to have lost to Ecuadorian brawler Carlos Andres Mina on his Olympic debut in the light-heavy class,
Final scores here
Ward, who landed the cleaner shots throughout, particularly in the first frame, against an extremely awkward but game opponent, received two public warnings for holding, while Mina, equally as guilty of the same offence,and hitting in the back of the head, was not sanctioned by the third man in the ring.
The points deductions effectively cost the World No. 3 the bout and a place in the last-eight.
“I thought I did enough to win,” said Ward after a real dog fight.“The ref gave me two public warnings for no real reason. He was doing a lot more holding, but that’s the ref.
“Disappointed with the result, but what can I do. He was really rugged and pulling dragging.That’s boxing.”
Meantime, Steven Donnelly will be aiming to improve to two wins from two versus Mongolia’s two-time Olympian Tuvshinbat Byamba in Rio at approximately 4:45pm tomorrow.
Byamba has 403 amateur bouts under his belt, including his win over Argentina’s Alberto Palmeta in Rio. The Mongolian champion qualified for the 31st Olympiad after finishing in third spot following a box-off win at the Asian and Oceania qualifiers in China earlier this year.
Byamba won his first fight at London 2012 but went out in the last 16. Donnelly qualified for Rio through the WSB.
Irish Draw Rio Olympics
August 7th (last 32)
60kg David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) v Andrique Allisop (Seychelles) 3-0
69kg Steven Donnelly (Ireland) beat Zahir Kedache (Algeria) 3-0
August 8th (last 16)
49kg Paddy Barnes (Ireland) lost to Samuel Carmona (Spain) 1-2
August 9th (last 16)
60kg David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) lost to Albert Selimov (Azerbaijan) 0-3
August 10th (last 16)
81kg Joe Ward (Ireland) lost to Carlos Andres Mina (Ecuador) 1-2
August 11th (last 16)
69kg Steven Donnelly (Ireland) v Tuvshinbat Byamba (Mongolia)
August 12th (last 16)
75kg Michael O’Reilly (Ireland) lost to Uziel Rodriquez (Mexico) W/O
August 13th (last 32)
52kg Brendan Irvine (Ireland) v Shakhobidin Zoirov (Uzbekistan)
August 14th (last 16)
56kg Michael Conlan (Ireland) v Aram Avagyan (Armenia)
August 15th (Q/Final)
60kg Katie Taylor (Ireland) v Mira Potkonen (Finland) or Adriana Araujo (Brazil)
Irish squad
Women
60kg (Lightweight) – Katie Taylor (Bray)
Men
49kg (Light-flyweight) – Paddy Barnes (Holy Family)
52kg (Flyweight) – Brendan Irvine (St Paul’s)
56kg (Bantamweight) – Michael Conlan (Clonard)
60kg (Lightweight) – David Oliver Joyce (St Michael’s Athy & AIBA Pro Boxing)
69kg (Welterweight) – Steven Donnelly (All Saints)
75kg (Middleweight) – Michael O’Reilly (Portlaoise)
81kg (Light-heavyweight) – Joe Ward (Moate & AIBA Pro Boxing)
Team Manager: Joe Hennigan
Coaches: Zaur Antia, Eddie Bolger, John Conlan
Physio: Julianne Ryan
Sport Psychologist: Gerry Hussey