Ricky Nesbitt’s bid to become the first Irish boxer to reach a World University final ended in a points reversal to Hong Chuan-Hsun of Chinese Taipei in Russia today.
The Holy Family BC (Drogheda) DKIT flyweight, pictured above, lost on a unanimous decision.
Chuan-Hsun had the upper and after a fiery start to the 52kg three-rounder, but Nesbitt had settled well into his jab by the end of the first round in Elista.
The Irishman, who received a bye into the last-four, also found the target with two solid left hooks in the opening exchanges of the middle stanza with his opponent getting a second wind near the end of the frame.
The third round of an open and hard-punching contest was also close, but the lively Chuan-Hsun, who will meet Kazakhstan in the final, had his hand raised on a 30-27,30-27,30-27,30-27,29-28 verdict.
World University Championships Elista, Russia
September 1
Prelims
60kg Terry McEntee (Ireland,Old School/DCU) beat Narek Hovhannisyan (Armenia) 5-0
September 2
Q/Finals
56kg Sean Purcell (Ireland,Enniskerry/WIT) lost to Zhorzhik Marutyan (Armenia) 1-4
64kg Matthew McCole (Ireland,Dungloe/LKIT) lost to Alisa Sharifov (Russia) 0-5
September 3
Q/Finals
60kg Terry McEntee (Ireland,Old School/DCU) lost to Min Uulu Siitbek (Kyrgyzstan) 0-4
September 5
S/Final
52KG Ricky Nesbitt (Ireland,Holy Family Drogheda/DKIT) lost to Hong Chuan-Hsun (Chinese Taipei) 0-5
Team Ireland
52KG Ricky Nesbitt Holy Family Drogheda/DKIT
56KG Sean Purcell Enniskerry/WIT
60KG Terry McEntee Old School/DCU
64KG Matthew McCole Dungloe/LKIT
Team Manager Paul Geoghegan
Coaches Derek Ahern
Paddy Gallagher