Steven Donnelly defeated in World Series of Boxing

Steven Donnelly lost out in his first competitive fight of the year in the World Series of Boxing in Vargas, Venezuela last night.

Fighting for the first time since last April, the Rio 2016 Olympian was beaten on a unanimous decision by Hungary’s ex European Elite champion (2010) Balaz Bacskai over five rounds.

Donnelly was boxing for the Poland Hussars against the Venezuela Caciques

The All Saints welterweight split the judges in his favour in the first stanza.

But Bacskai, who was beaten by Ireland’s John Joe Joyce and Willie McLaughlin in the past, took the remaining frames to seal victory, knocking the Ballymena boxer down in the fourth and fifth rounds.

The final scorecards read 49:45, 50:43, and 48:45 in favour of the Hungarian

Irish coach Eddie Bolger was working Donnelly’s corner in Vargas.

Venezuela, who have signed Darren O’Neill this season, won the home match 5-0.

Speaking after the fight, a disappointed Donnelly said that “it wasn’t to be tonight”

“It was a rusty and terrible performance.”

“No excuses from my part.”

However the Irishman refused to be disheartened and noted that “I needed the fight, that’s the only positive i can take out of it.”

“I’ll be back out again soon.”