Commonwealth Games 2018: Northern Ireland boxer’s furious response to losing gold medal fight

A FURIOUS Northern Ireland boxer says she didn’t deserve to lose her gold medal bout, claiming her Australian opponent only won because ‘she’s the face of the Games’.

Northern Ireland's Michaela Walsh (red) reacts to Australia's Skye Nicolson winning gold in the women's 57kg boxing final. Picture: Adrian Dennis

HOMETOWN hero Skye Nicolson has honoured the memory of her late brother with an emotional gold medal triumph at the Commonwealth Games, but her opponent Michaela Walsh was furious.

Nicolson, whose brother Jamie won featherweight bronze at the 1990 Auckland Games, prevailed by the tightest of margins for a split decision victory over Northern Ireland’s Walsh in the 57kg final at Oxenford Studios.

It is Australia’s third boxing gold medal for the Games following earlier triumphs for Anja Stridsman (women’s 60kg) and Harry Garside (men’s 60kg).

But neither were more powerful than Nicolson’s dramatic victory in memory of the brother she believes was “robbed” when disqualified in his semi-final at the Auckland Games.

Jamie was 22 when killed in a car crash with younger brother Gavin in 1994, a year before Skye was born.

Northern Ireland's Michaela Walsh (red) reacts to Australia's Skye Nicolson winning gold in the women's 57kg boxing final. Picture: Adrian Dennis

“I had a little chat to them right before I went in and they were definitely there with me,” Nicolson said

“I won that medal for both of us tonight. I’m so stoked.”

Neither woman was able to land a significant blow for much of Saturday night’s contest, with three out of five judges scoring the fight 29-28 in Nicolson’s favour.

Walsh was devastated after the fight and can consider herself unlucky not to have prevailed.

“I don’t really know how I lost that fight. I don’t even think it was close,” Walsh told AAP.

“But she’s the face of the Games and sometimes that’s the way it is.

“Some of the decisions have been really bad lately, for Australia, I don’t know how they can get away with it. But it’s just going to make me stronger.”

Walsh cries during the medal ceremony. Picture: Anthony Wallace

And then pretends to take Nicolson’s gold medal. Picture: Adrian Dennis

Walsh’s comments echo those from Mbachi Kaonga’s epic, expletive-laden meltdown when he lost to Australia’s Clay Waterman in a men’s quarter-final bout.

It was a case of history repeating itself for Walsh, who also suffered a contentious split decision loss in the gold medal bout at the 2014 Glasgow Games.

Aussie boxer @SkyeNicolson wins gold against Northern Ireland's @michaelaw57 by split decision 3:2. Download the 7CommGames app: https://t.co/TgYtxal6kC #7CommGames #7News pic.twitter.com/qZ2miNdjp1

— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) April 14, 2018

Nicolson will now look to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, having thrived under pressure as the most scrutinised boxer at the Games.

Originally published as Commonwealth Games 2018: Northern Ireland boxer’s furious response to losing gold medal fight