It was steaming hot in Tokyo yesterday. But a chilling reality hit Irish boxing as Kurt Walker and Aidan Walsh exited the Games in contrasting ways.
t least Walsh goes home to Belfast with a bronze medal but Walker, despite a memorable victory in the previous round over the world champion Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov, returns empty-handed after being on a wrong end of a razor-thin split decision against American featherweight Duke Ragan.
The decision left Walker devastated while former Irish coach Billy Walsh, now head of US Boxing, was heart-broken to see his former prodigy lose even though he was in Ragan’s corner.
An emotional Walsh said: “It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
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The day began badly with confirmation that Aidan Walsh, who damaged his ankle while celebrating his bronze medal success in the ring after getting the decision against Merven Clair, had been unable to attend the compulsory medical and had withdrawn from his semi-final bout against Britain’s Pat McCormack.
“We tried to give Aidan as much opportunity as we could, we literally left it to the last minute this morning to make a decision on it,” explained IABA High Performance head Bernard Dunne. “Aidan wanted, as much as he possibly could, to get into the ring, but unfortunately, his body would not let him, and we’ve got to make those decisions that protect the athlete.
“The last two days have been just trying to manage, to see what we could do, with the medical team, how we could support him and how we could give him any opportunity to get in that ring. But he wouldn’t have been able to move.”
Dunne exonerated the 23-year-old Belfast welterweight from any blame in getting the injury.
“You know he is a young man who had just achieved Olympic success. You couldn’t legislate for something like that happening. We are assuming that’s the moment it did happen.
“He will get over it. He is an Olympian and he is an Olympic medallist.
“He is one of 16 (Irish) boxers who have medalled at the Olympic Games. That is an incredible achievement.
“His application since he has been in the programme – his attitude, his ability to listen and perform when asked to – has been brilliant. Those are the things I want to focus on. It has been so positive for him – it really has been.
“It’s unfortunate how his journey has come to an end in this competition. But that journey continues after this competition. How far he goes will again be how much he puts into it,” added Dunne, who declined to elaborate on the exact nature of Walsh’s injury.
However, Walsh didn’t attend the Walker medal fight yesterday, which suggests the injury is serious.
And to compound Ireland’s misery, Walker’s medal hopes vanished thanks to a 3-2 decision versus American Ragan. But for Covid-19, neither fighter would have made the Games.
Walker’s baby daughter Layla was seriously ill last summer – she has since recovered – and her father would not have travelled to the Games last summer had they gone ahead.
Ragan decided to turn professional after the 2020 Games were postponed – he was unbeaten after four pro fights. Then got a second Olympic shot after the Americas qualifying tournament, scheduled for Buenos Aires during the spring of 2021, was cancelled due to Covid-19.
But the pair served up a classic nine-minute bout that could have gone either way. Ultimately, Walker’s slow start cost him. In the first round, Ragan’s fast hands repeatedly caught him and, to compound his problems, a nick opened up near his right eye.
All five judges gave the American the round, but Walker underlined his ability and bravery by storming back in the second. Three of the judges gave him the round, which meant that he was level on three cards and one point down on the other two going into the last round.
Again, Walker edged the third, though both fighters looked out on their feet in the last 60 seconds. So, it was all in the laps of the judges. Four of them favoured the Irishman, but he needed all five to edge the decision.
Lithuanian judge Gintaras Sniuksta emerged as the key figure. After giving the second round to Walker, he was the only judge not to award him the third.
“I’m devastated, but that’s boxing, 3-2, that’s the way it goes. I’ve done well in this tournament, and I’m proud of myself. I haven’t watched it back, but I thought I was better in the second and third, but it was so close.
“I wasn’t even supposed to be here a year ago. To come and dominate and show everyone back home how good I am, I’m proud.”
Dunne praised Walker’s performance.
“I thought Kurt performed exceptionally well. There wasn’t any more he could have done; he possibly had a bit of a slow start, but this is a world-class competition. We’re at the Olympic quarter-final stage. Kurt has shown that he can perform at the highest level.”
Walsh said: “It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. In 2012, we brought Kurt into the Irish programme for this day, and I was part of preventing him achieve that.
“Kurt has been the stand-out in this division at the Olympics; his coaches are the best in the world.
“They were my colleagues for 12 years. It’s been an emotional roller-coaster,” he added.
Dunne, meanwhile, was critical of the decision to allow professional fighters to compete in the Olympics: “I disagree with professionals fighting in the Olympic Games. But that’s not my decision to make.”