A bloody shame.
There is no other way of describing it after Pat McCormack’s split decision defeat saw him forced to settle for a silver medal at the World Championships.
The 24-year-old’s welterweight final was stopped in the second round in Ekaterinburg following a head clash with Andrei Zamkovoi.
It meant it went to the judges scores with the China, Germany, Morocco and Korean officials putting the Russian 20-18 up at the time of the stoppage with the other judge marking it 19-19.
Many watching agreed with the Trinidad & Tobago observer that the Birtley ABC star was coming into the final nicely at the EXPO Arena.
Sadly, bad luck was to prove McCormack’s enemy as he chased global gold to go with the titles he has won in the last 22 months at the Commonwealth Games, EU Championship and European Games.
Pat was sporting in defeat, congratulating the Olympic bronze medalist on his victory, before giving his reaction of being “proud” of his silver medal.
The boxer, from Washington, said: “It’s been a good week for me and the team but I am gutted with how it ended.
“I felt like I was starting to get on top and that he was beginning to get tired, but the clash of heads put a stop to it.
“It’s just one of those things that happens sometimes in boxing.
“I am proud of my silver medal and how I have boxed this week.
“Not many people from Britain have been to a world final, so I am pleased to have got this far, it’s just a shame about the result.”
McCormack’s performance this week simply reinforced the view that he is one of THE best performers at 69 kilos and is ideally positioned to challenge for Olympic gold next August.
“It is all about Tokyo now and, after this last couple of weeks, I feel that me and the rest of the team are in good shape and can be confident as we look forwards to the Olympics next year,” added Pat, pictured above against Andrei in the final.
McCormack’s silver medal was the highlight of an excellent competition for the GB team, which won three medals across eight weight categories as light-heavyweight, Ben Whittaker and featherweight, Peter McGrail, both secured bronze.
The medal haul ought to have been higher after Frazer Clarke won his super-heavyweight quarter-final against Russia’s Maxim Babanin, only to have the decision reversed by the bout review jury after the host nation appealed against the decision of the ringside judges.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: GB Boxing
