Valiant Adam Nolan edged out at World Championships

There was heartbreak for Wexford welterweight Adam Nolan today at the 18th edition of the AIBA World Amateur Boxing Championships. The 28 year old was edged out on a split decision in his opening bout in Doha, Qatar, by the European Champion, Eimantas Stanionis of Lithuania.

It was a tough draw for Nolan, but the 2012 Olympian put in a strong performance in what was a very tight fight.

Nolan started the opening round slowly but got into his groove in the second half and was somewhat unlucky to find himself 10-9 down on all three cards at the end of the three minutes.

The Garda came out fighting in the second stanza, and a strong showing saw him level the fight on one card – however he was harshly adjudged to have slipped to two rounds behind with the other two judges.

Needing a massive final round, Nolan put in a super-human effort, winning on two judges’s cards, but it was sadly not enough.

The final scorecards read 29-28 and 30-27 in favour of Stanionis, with the remaining card 29-28 for Nolan.

Their was certainly a touch of controversy about the final result, and the scoring of the first round in particular. Afterward Head Coach Billy Walsh admitted the result lefft him “lost for words.”
Nolan will surely be disappointed, but upon his return to Ireland he will begin his preparations for the Elite National Championships this Winter where he will aim to fend off the advances of Steven Donnelly and Caoimhin Hynes, thereby ensuring that he will be Ireland’s representative at the European and World Olympic qualifiers next April and June respectively. – where he will hope to secure qualification for his second Olympics.