Joe Ward loses Olympic qualifier on count back
IABA Press Officer Bernard O’Neill
Joe Ward agonisingly lost out on a place at the London Olympics after losing on a countback to Ehsan Rouzbahani of Iran at the World Championships and Olympic qualifiers in Baku, Azerbaijan this morning.
The current European light-heavyweight champion and Rouzbahani were tied at 15-15 at the end of the three rounds but the Iranian got the nod on accepted scores.
(No count back score are available at this time).
Both boxers received public warnings for holding in the second and third rounds by Uzbekistani referee Dahodir Jumaniyazov. The first frame ended level at 4-4 but Rouzbahini was 12-8 up going into the third.
Ward won the third 7-3 to tie the bout at 15-15, but Rouzbahini was handed a ticket for the 2012 London Games on a count back.
“I’m really, really disappointed. I just can’t believe that I’ve been beaten. Four of the judges had me winning (in the last round) and one judge had me losing and I lost on a count back. It’s devastating, said 17-year-old Ward.
“I wasn’t stepping back as usual, counter punching. I don’t know what really happened, what came over me at that time.
“That definitely destroyed the fight, added Ward in relation to his public warning in the second round. “I didn’t deserve it. He was doing most of the holding and pulling.”
Darren O’Neill and John Joe Nevin will be next up for Ireland between 11am and 12 noon (Irish time).
Michael Conlon, Roy Sheehan David Oliver Joyce and Con Sheehan will be in action in the evening session, which begins at 3pm (Irish time).
2011 AIBA World Men’s Championships Baku, Azerbaijan
September 27th
52Kg: (last 64) Michael Conlan (St John Bosco) beat Alexandr Riscan (Moldova) 25-12
September 29th
69Kg: (last 64) Roy Sheehan (St Michael’s Athy) beat Carl Hield (Bahamas) 15-10
September 30th
64Kg: (last 64) Ray Moylette (St Anne’s) beat Arturs Ahmetous (Latvia) 16-11
October 1st (last 64)
75Kg: Darren O’Neill (Paulstown) beat Glodi Eneste (Norway) 16-5
60Kg: David Oliver Joyce (St Michael’s Athy) beat Mohammad Momevand (Iran) 23-11
October 2nd (last 32)
52Kg:Michael Conlan (St John Bosco) beat Olzhas Sattibayev (Kazakhstan) 18-17
64Kg: Ray Moylette (St Anne’s) lost to Manoj Kumar (India) 7-19
69Kg: Roy Sheehan (St Michael’s Athy) beat Borna Katalinic (Croatia) 21-17
81Kg: Joe Ward (Moate) beat Dilovarsho Abdurakhmanov (Tajikistan) 22-4
91+Kg: Con Sheehan (Clonmel) beat Faruth Kalonov (Tajikistan) RSC2
October 3rd (last 32)
49Kg: Paddy Barnes (Holy Family) lost to Mark Barriga (Philippines) 12-20
56Kg: John Joe Nevin (Cavan) beat Akhil Kumar (India) 21-14
60Kg: David Oliver Joyce (St Michael’s Athy) beat Mohammad Khaiber (Afghanistan) 26-13
75Kg: Darren O’Neill (Paulstown) beat Mohamad Hikal (Egypt) 15-13
91Kg: Ken Egan (Neilstown) lost to Jose Gomez Larduet (Cuba) RET3
October 4th (Last 16)
52Kg: Michael Conlan (St John Bosco) v Nordine Oubaali (France) (evening)
56Kg: John Joe Nevin (Cavan) v Otgondalai Dorjnyambuu (Mongolia) (afternoon)
69Kg: Roy Sheehan (St Michael’s Athy) v Egidijus Kavaliauskas (Lithuania) (evening)
60kg; David Oliver Joyce (St Michael’s Athy) v Jai Bhagwan (India) (evening)
75Kg: Darren O’Neill (Paulstown) v Mladen Manev (Bulgaria) (afternoon)
81Kg: Joe Ward (Moate) lost to Ehsan Rouzbahani (Iran) 15-15 count back (no count back scores available)
91+Kg: Con Sheehan (Clonmel) v Roberto Cammerelle (Italy) (evening)
