Road to Tokyo 2020 - Irish Olympic News

They very nearly caused boxing to be kicked out of the Olympics, that's how serious it was getting. Interestingly, the addition of women's boxing may well have saved the sport as an Olympic one.

Probably not too surprising since they only initiated an independent investigation into Rio a couple of months ago which is the price AIBA had to pay in order to be able to return to the fold. Four years of marking its own homework, hardly shocking they somehow failed to uncover clear and controvertible evidence of its own corruption.

So who is judging now.

Is it IOC judges ?

Yes, boxing people who have been appointed by the IOC and who are not affiliated to AIBA in any way.

Past months? The inquiry was only launched at the end of June! It's barely started yet. I think it's usually advisable to wait until these investigations are finished before describing it as "guff". McLaren did a very good job on the Russia doping stuff.

Yes, past months

Fist report due end this month....I doubt they will have clear evidence of actual fixing/cheating for fights in Rio....

Not saying there was not, but one needs to actually show/prove it

I have seen more dubious verdicts than Conlan's. The HW one was probably the main dubious one but of course, Conlan's antics post fight grabbed the headlines

As far as I know both Conlan's fight and the HW fight were unanimous decisions. Were all 5-10 judges cheating/bribed/corrupt?

In the HW fight an Irish judge judged it. I know his face, but his name escapes me at this time.

Edit: Michael Gallagher I think is the name

Possible

But bit of a stretch to think all the judges in MCs and Tischenko's fights were cheting/bribed. Both decisions were unanimous

Sunita was feeling unwell. Rory had few lip outs(although of all Irish he was least i cared about). Walker was very unlucky

All im saying is that fine margins is difference between a good Olympics and excellent one. Rhys does not slip he was banker for medal.

Everyone needs bit of luck too. Aidan Walsh got a nice draw so it was not all bad for us.

No matter how good you are you still need a bit of luck.

You can't say somebody like Coyle or Walker did not perform on the day when they did but one got a dud of a horse.

Overall the vast majority Rio fights were the same. Fair...240 or so bouts, and only very few were dubious

No different here or anywhere as regards that large number bouts...

There is absolutely nothing different or dramatic about Rio compared to any global boxing tournament with many many bouts. The only difference is the exaggerated hyped outrage.

Had Conlan not been shouting and roaring and effing and blinding, nobody would have given a damn. Juts another decision. The actual bout I scored 29-28 Conlan.

Let's wait for McClaren to finalize his report/inquiry, but don't hold your breath expecting to find out that the 5 judges in Conlan's fight were on the take, or the 5 in the HW gold medal bout.

Actually, not sure now...I think it was 3 judges in the Rio bouts. Anyway, both fights unanimous.

5 judges judged but only three scores counted. It was 29-28 all three. The issue was round 1. I gave this to MC, all three Rio scoring judges gave to Nikiitin. I gave MC round 2, as did all three judges. I gave rd 3 to Nikittin, as did all 3 judges.

Nobody is defending anything. Just giving a realistic and objective take on it.

I forget the names but the single worst sporting - let alone boxing - decision I've ever seen was between an Azerbaijani and Japanese fighter in 2012. The Japanese guy battered him around the ring for 3 rounds, knocked him down SIX times in one round - and lost!

That happened not long after the BBC ran a report about the Azeris bribing officials for medals at the London games.

More to boxing than just “landed” “punches”

I doubt many think 4 medals is a "major disappointment".

Good post otherwise.

Bookies had us to win 2 to 3 medals with 2 being slight favourite.

I do think we should be aiming to win 5-8 medals per games going forward now though

To be fair the Uzbeks had a sh!t hot team in 2016. Dusmatov, flyweight I think, i remember getting the Val Barker for best fighter, absolutely outstanding. Obviously not so good this time. The head of the AIBA was Chinese.

But still rotten to the core, of course! I'd be looking more towards the Azerbaijanis personally.

Well she doesn't need to rush a decision. She could take six months or a year out of the sport, recharge her batteries and then aim for qualification again. Interesting to see if her fiancé Arthur is interested in Paris too, having unfortunately missed this one due to injury after qualifying.

Though Natalya points out that she had a lot more luck in London and Rio, so it's swings and roundabouts I guess.

Looks like Stephanie Meadow finished in the top six or so on 12 under - play suspended due to bad weather. Good showing from her.

Natalya Coyle on flag duty for the closing ceremony - nice way for her to finish out her Olympic career - although the decision will have been made easier by most of our competitors having long since left Japan at this stage and Kellie Harrington having a fight to focus on tomorrow.

Really exciting.

3 points in it in the end, not one as I thought. All the little twists and turns and teams making those little breaks, it's fascinating. Thought the French might get a lap at one point too. One of most entertaining Olympic event for me, not even that complicated once you've watched a few laps of it.