Luke McCormack has been forced to settle for bronze at the Commonwealth Games after losing a split decision in his semi-final today.
After three cracking wins en route to the last four at light-welterweight, Luke could not get the better of Namibia’s Jonas Jonas.
It was an extremely close contest, which could have gone either way, but the African nicked it three judges to two.
The Algerian judge gave all three rounds to McCormack while the Korean official scored it 29-28 to the Birtley ABC boxer. Sadly, the other three judges marked it for Jonas.
It was not the result, obviously, that the Washington lad wanted – he and brother Pat were desperate to strike twin gold.
But when the dust settles, a bronze medal from his first Commonwealth Games is hardly shabby, after rgistering three good victories, especially the success over Northern Ireland’s Sean McComb in a battle between the men ranked three and four in Europe.
It was also further experience of major tournament boxing which can only stand him in good stead with the Tokyo Olympics only two years away.
With his Birtley team-mate Calum French eliminated at the quarter-final stage at lightweight, the hopes of the club now rest with Pat McCormack (centre) in his semi-final at welterweight.
