Irish boxer Paddy Barnes crashes out of Olympics after split-decision loss

Paddy Barnes is out of the Rio Olympics, following defeat to Spaniard Samuel Carmona Heredia this afternoon.

Yafai said: “I am gutted to have lost”. “There were doubts about me making the weight”.

“I thought he was going to get a point [deducted in the third round], he was putting his head down and he looked knackered, I don’t know what everyone else thought”. “I feel like I might be sick or something, I feel that bad”.

“He didn’t even have to give me a fight there”.

He went toe-to-toe with the Spaniard in a gutsy performance but unfortunately he was just edged out by the judges’ decision.

“I was favourite for gold and I genuinely believed that I would come away with the gold medal. I am pleased with how I fought, he is a world champion, so sometimes you don’t get everything your own way”. “I will not be fighting at 49 kilo again, it is too hard”. “I would have been embarrassed next week”.

He will be seen in the ring in the future but confirmed that he will not fight for Team Ireland at another Olympic Games.

Barnes, who had set his sights on gold after securing bronze in 2008 and 2012, was heavily favoured but started slowly and lost the first round to his 20-year-old opponent on two judges’ cards, with the third scoring it a draw.