By Team GB boxers Rosie Eccles and Charley Davison were both eliminated from the Olympics after controversial split-decision defeats. Eccles, competing in the women’s 66kg division, lost to Poland’s Aneta Rygielska in a 3-2 split decision that was met with boos and jeers from the crowd. Despite Rygielska having a point deducted for holding, Eccles was left in tears, feeling she had clearly won the fight.
Similarly, Charley Davison was defeated by Turkey’s Hatice Akbas in the opening bantamweight contest. Davison, who felt she had done enough to win despite a slow start, was also eliminated on a split decision. Both boxers expressed their disappointment and shock at the decisions, with Eccles particularly emotional about missing out on an Olympic medal.
Team GB officials are reportedly furious with the decisions that ended the participation of Eccles and Davison. Eccles emphasized her lifelong dedication to winning an Olympic medal and expressed gratitude to those who supported her journey.
Other Team GB boxers still competing in Paris include heavyweight Pat Brown, who lost his opening match to Brazil’s Keno Marley Machado, and super-heavyweight Delicious Orie, who is set to face former world silver medallist Davit Caloyan. Middleweight Chantelle Reid will compete against Morocco’s Khadija Mardi, the 2023 world champion, while light-middleweight Lewis Richardson will take on Serbia’s Vakhid Abbasov in the last-16.
