Sean McComb edged out by Luke McCormack on a split-decision again
Sean McComb has bowed out of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
The Belfast light welterweight has been eliminated at the Last 16 stage in Australia in the cruelest of fashions.
Given the nightmare draw, McComb was faced with England’s Luke McCormack, his main competitor for gold, in his opening bout.
The pair had met in the quarter-finals of the European Championships last year in Ukraine where McCormack emerged victorious on a controversial split-decision and it was the same again this morning on the Gold Coast.
The Northern Ireland men’s team captain fell to a 4-1 split-decision loss in an intensely close fight which he perhaps edged.
Again a clash of styles with southpaw McComb showing quality outside work and a wide range of shots, the compact pressure of McCormack swayed a majority of the judges.
The Holy Trinity fighter had a very good first round but McCormack built and improved throughout, finishing strong and taking the win.
The final scorecards read 30-27 and 28-28 x3 in McCormack’s favour, while the Polish judge gave all three rounds to McComb.
Ah, that was tight – Sean McComb bows out on a split decision to England’s Luke McCormack in the last 16 at 64kg. Thought McComb might have edged it but hard to argue either way, was very close fight. Real shame for either of those guys to leave the Gold Coast without a medal
— Neil Loughran (@neil_loughran) April 8, 2018
Sean Mccomb won that fight no doubt about it fs hes been in the end of some horrible decisions gutted for him!
— The Rook Dalton (@TheDaltonator90) April 8, 2018
Really thought @sugarseantl won that there! Gutted for him
— Ray Ginley (@Ray_Ginley) April 8, 2018
Earlier, Kristina O’Hara had guaranteed a bronze with a win over Welsh veteran Lynsey Holdaway at light flyweight while middleweight Steven Donnelly moved into the quarters with a dominant win over Gibrilla Kamara of Sierra Leone.
There are two Irish in Last 16 action tonight/tomorrow morning. St George’s lightweight James McGivern starts his campaign versus Zambian Emmanuel Ngoma at around 5:00am while St Paul’s flyweight Brendan Irvine faces tough Barbadian Jabali Breedy at 10:45am.
All times Irish time. The Gold Coast is nine hours ahead.
Photo Credit: Laszlo Geczo Photography
