Paddy Barnes is out of the Rio Olympics, following defeat to Spaniard Samuel Carmona Heredia this afternoon.
After a week which saw the suspension of Michael O'Reilly – appeal pending – it was another shocking blow for the team, whose most experienced fighter has now left the competition at the first hurdle.
The Belfast fighter, who is captain of the Irish boxing team and travelled with high hopes of adding a gold medal to his pair of bronze from Beijing and London, found himself in a scrap from the very start, as his game opponent fought with aggression from the first bell.
The Spanish fighter consistently found a home for his counter-left throughout, and though Barnes nicked the middle round, both the opening and closing rounds went to the Spaniard, as the Holy Family club man was unceremoniously eliminated – likely prompting his move to the professional ranks.