Heartbreak for Dean Clancy as Olympic adventure ends for Manorhamilton club fighter

Dean Clancy’s Olympic adventure came to a heartbreaking halt on Saturday when the Manorhamilton club fighter lost out on a 3-2 split decision to Jordan’s Abada Alkasbeh in the 63.5kg division on the opening day of the boxing programme at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris.

The Sligo man, fighting out of the Sean McDermott Boxing Club in Manorhamilton and son of Manorhamilton native Jason, lost out on an extremely tight call in his debut at the Olympic Games, coming up against a three time Olympian in Alkasbeh.

With the judges scoring the contest 29-27, 29-27, 27-29, 28-28 and 28-28 after a final round point deduction for the Jordanian fighter, the two judges who scored it level opted for Alkasbeh when asked to pick the winner, consigning the Sligo man to a heartbreaking and cruel defeat.

Drawn on the tough side of the draw, the 22-year-old European Games gold medalist came up against a vastly more experienced Jordanian opponent who used his desperation to get past the first round of the competition, following first round exits in Rio and Tokyo, to power past the talented Irishman.

Clancy was handed a lifeline late in the third round when persistent infractions finally saw Alkasbeh docked a point but it wasn’t enough to overhaul the lead built up by the three time Asian Championship medalist who never allowed the Irish champion settle into a rhythm.

A disappointed Dean Clancy is interviewed after his Olympic bout Picture: David Fitzgerald Sportsfile

The taller and more stylish Clancy did produce some moments of real quality throughout the bout as he finished the first round with a ferocious flurry. Nevertheless, Alkasbeh took the first round on four of the five judges’ scorecards.

The second round was much more evenly contested and heading into the final three minute round, Alkasbeh was ahead on two judges’ scorecards with the remaining three having it level. Three of the judges gave the final round to Clancy but he missed out by the narrowest of margins.

The deducted point actually meant that Clancy had won the fight on two cards with two judges left with level scorecards but those judges sided with Alkasbeh meaning he will progress to face France’s gold medal favourite Sofiane Oumiha in the last 16.