Zaur Antia fumes as Christina Desmond suffers controversial defeat

Ireland head coach Zaur Antia was left incensed after Christina Desmond was controversially beaten in the European Elite middleweight semi-final in Sofia, Bulgaria last night.

The Cork southpaw, who will be bringing home bronze from the tournament, was adjudged to have dropped a split decision to France’s Maily Nicar after a 75kg thriller.

Antia said the French coaches apologised to him after the fight and admitted they believed Desmond won, Antia adding he believed Desmond “destroyed” her French opponent.

The Leesider repeatedly found the target with straight lefts and left hooks — with her right hook occasionally earning its keep for good measure — in rounds one, two and four.

Nicar, worked hard throughout the contest and had a good third and might have shaded that frame, but Desmond again detonated the more solid shots in the fourth and final stanza.

Antia said: “Christina won all four rounds, all four rounds. Maybe the third round was close, but she won that as well. The French coaches came to me, they apologised because of the result.

“I told Christina she won very well, told her she was excellent. We are very disappointed, Christina won the fight. She destroyed the French girl.”

Desmond, clearly emotional after the decision, said she was proud to be the second boxer from Cork to win a European Elite medal since Kieran Joyce won bronze, also in Bulgaria, in 1983.

“I don’t think I normally win them for some reason but I obviously thought I won this one. That’s the way it goes, that’s boxing,” said the Irish Youth Olympian and Fr Hogan’s Boxing Club member.

“Ireland hasn’t had a good year (Michael Conlan versus Vladimir Nikitin result at Rio Olympics) with decisions. I’ve just fallen as one of them as well.

“She didn’t think she won it either to be honest, her coaches the same. I’m delighted to be bringing home a European bronze medal in my first year senior. It will do, for now.”

Nicar will now meet England’s Natasha Gale in today’s final. Desmond, meantime, is the only Irish female boxer besides Katie Taylor (6 gold) and Clare Grace (bronze) to medal at the European Women’s Elites. Desmond will be presented with her bronze medal today.

Meanwhile, three Irish boxers, Michael Nevin, Gabriel Dossen and Christopher O’Reilly will fight in the quarter-finals of the World Youths in St Petersburg, Russia today.