IRELAND’S DAINA MOOREHOUSE has bowed out of the Paris Olympics following a split decision defeat in her last-16 bout against France’s Wassila Lkhadiri.
The Irish corner were furious as the French fighter was announced as the winner of the Women’s 50kg flyweight division fight after Moorehouse’s brilliant display.
On the RTÉ panel, Bernard Dunne and Kenneth Egan had their say.
“Ridiculous. Shocking. Shameful.”
Eric Donovan had been “perplexed” by the judge’s scoring on commentary.
Back to Paris North Arena, where a dejected Moorehouse gave her post-fight thoughts.
“The first round, they said it was 3-2 to me, which is fair,” the Wicklow star said.
“I thought I pushed a lot in the third, I thought that was clear, but I lost the round 4-1. I don’t know what they’re judging by. I don’t know…
“The plan was to be in control. I’ve fought her before so we knew what to expect, but I don’t know… I just gave it my all and I don’t know…”
She, too, was perplexed. Déjà vu to Aoife O’Rourke last night, and others beforehand.
“I tried to dig deep coming to the end of it,” Moorehouse added in her TV interview. “I don’t know how it was 4-1 against me.
“I still think I am a better boxer than her, that’s just it. I don’t know what the judges are looking at. I tried my best, I knew I was gonna be booed, I knew what to expect but I didn’t let any of that phase me and I don’t know… I don’t know what to say.”
'I don't know what they're judging by'
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 1, 2024
Daina Moorehouse gives her reaction after her contentious defeat in her last-16 bout to France's Wassila Lkhadiri#RTESport #Paris2024 #boxing
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Earlier, a raucous French crowd booed as Moorehouse walked out to the ring.
She wore a wry smile.
The 22-year-old settled well, landing some good shots and appearing to take control early on. She won the first round on three judges’ cards, while two favoured Lkhadiri.
It was an even contest early on in round two, but Moorehouse soon showed her class. She aggressively bounced back from two elbows and rocked the hometown fighter with a powerful southpaw rally at the end of the stanza.
It was all square on four judge’s cards, leaving Donovan at a loss on co-commentary.
Moorehouse needed a big third round and she delivered. Lkhadiri may have started best but the Bray boxer grew into it accordingly. She responded to an early cheap shot with a string of good shots, and appeared to blow Lkhadiri away with a superb finish.
Zaur Antia and the Irish corner were convinced she had won.
Moorehouse looked pleased with her evening’s work.
But as Lkhadiri was announced as the winner on points by split decision, another Irish Olympic dream came crashing down.
Boxing might not he in the next Olympics because of the corruption at its core and issues between the IOC and the IBA.. and on this showing it doesn’t deserve to be.
Shocking stuff again.
@Mark Carolan: have to agree. Though we have a good record in the sport, I think the corruption runs too deep and it should be dropped.
@Mark Carolan: has to be taken out of the Olympics, brings disgrace to the competition
@Mark Carolan: has to be looked at.. It has no integrity anymore.. Needs to be dropped. The last 3 Olympics have had more than 1 or 2 blatant corruption outcomes.
@Blue Whale: only chance is to go back to the old way of scoring that they introduced after the Roy Jones Jnr debacle in Seoul. That seemed to work reasonably well for the competitors, but obviously not for the governing bodies.
Disgraceful home town decision.
That’s a truly shocking decision
Poor woman got completely ripped off there. Hopefully she will go again in four years time. She boxed and fought really well and is a serious talent.
Dear god can boxing go any lower discusting decision poor girl she was class won that fight
The decision last night was bad enough but that decision there was shocking is there a more corrupt sport in the Olympics
Travisty Daina won the fight corruption alive and well in Amateur Boxing.
Absolutely, a terrible decision.
Brutal decision, she boxed way better
Was ray ridge a judge lol
@Gary Galligan: oh ffs he will most likely say she lost
@Gary Galligan: why do you care? and why do you give that obnoxious troll oxygen
Outrageous decison. So corrupt. My heart goes out Daina. And then they have 2 male boxers in the womens event. God help us.
@Michael Carroll: that’s not true Michael. You lose credibility when you throw misinformation into the comments section. Those two are not male…they are females with an extraordinary higher level of testosterone than most females.
@Michael Carroll: kellie harrington beat one of the boxers you are incorrectly branding male at the last olympics. Where was the outrage then?
@Michael Carroll: I woyld suggest that you do your homework before making a silly comment like that!
@Michael Carroll: Michael I’m with you 100 % on your post. Both boxers you talk about were banned from last years Women’s World Boxing Championships for they both are not women. A fact is a fact – they both were not allowed compete in the women’s world championship last year, read it again and google it to see it’s true to all the naysayers
@WqM9AAv3: I am delighted to hear that you have taken such an unusually enlightened point of view in favour of Trans Rights John or Edward, but in this case both girls were born female, with female genetalia and a specific female organ. Obviously I cannot tell you why they were also born with a Y chromosone, but it happens to millions of girls. There are also millions of boys born with 2 X chromostones. Do you think that they should be punished for the way they were born or should we introduce multiple gender classes into the Olympic games?
@Paul Ennis: my bad for stating a true fact that both boxers were banned from fighting in Women’s boxing. You have me all confused with everything else you said as I’ve no idea what you on about. Is it true that they were not allowed box in the Women’s World championship last year? Simple question. A simple yes or no answer will suffice
What an absolute disgrace. How can anyone have any faith in the judges after this. I thought last night was bad but what I’ve witnessed now is beyond belief and the judges didn’t even try to conceal their corruption in fact one judge had awarded the fight to the French girl after round two. Crazy.
Diana certainly looked to have won that fight but you pretty much figure she would have had to knock her opponent out to get the decision. At least the french girl fought within the rules of boxing not like the polish girl last night.
That is a disgrace four years to prepare and judges are a total disgrace I am disgusted with this injustice
Home town decision. An absolute disgrace. Diana was brilliant
Shame on France 2024,corruption alive and well
I feel sick now after that
@Sean: sick is the word. Judges should be named and shamed
After watching that WWE is less fixed than that. Boxing has to dropped for the next Olympics.
That there is exactly why it won’t be in the next Olympics. That was an epic performance from the Irish boxer, hands down the winner. Robbed
Again, boxing the most corrupt judged sport at the Olympics .How does this encourage anyone to take up this sport??
Daina was better faster and stronger, epitomises the original Olympic spirit
Absolutely shocking decision.
Boxing is terribly corrupt sport with clientélisme rife. It would really be better to demote it from Olympics until they can find a way to eliminate blatant cheating which you see all the time. AI probably has a huge role to play in that
@ Ray Ridge. You have surpassed yourself this time with your attension seeking comments. Gob****.
@Michael Carroll: don’t even reply to him
Boxing in the Olympics have been blatantly corrupt for a long long while! I don’t think morehouse was robbed blind here.. But how one judge had the opponent in all 3 rounds?? Absolute joke.
I know it would be awful for the competitors but why bother anymore with the boxing. It’s clear it’s corrupt…and if not corrupt then it’s disgracefully managed. How any referee could give that first round to the French is mind boggling. As for the second round being 4-1, it’s just a joke.
@anthony davoren: So all the medals Irish boxers have ever won should be handed back because it was corrupt. Or is it only corrupt when we lose? Come on folks, we are better than this.
@Ray Ridge: on the high moral ground what a .
@Ray Ridge: From what I know about boxing the Idea is that the fighter who lands the most punches within the rules, wins the fight? Did you honestly think that the french girl landed as many or more punches than the Irish girl?
@Bert Carolan: Clean punches Bert. Clean punches. It was another tight fight. Spilt decision in favour out Daina would have been fair also. Could have gone either way. But to suggest that 5 judges from 5 neutral countries for the second consecutive day are out to rob us is nonsense. The bias commentary leads us to believe we are winning all the time but one needs to watch these fights with commentary switched off and with objective mind set. If you put a green Irish singlet on that French fighter I guarantee you, you will see every punch she lands and be adamant that she was better fighter. The mind can play tricks with you.
@Ray Ridge: every single replay was Moorhouse landing clean punches. The singlets were red and blue you moron. Probably didn’t even watch it, but don’t let thar get in the way of your trolling.
@Ray Ridge: Well obviously clean punches, a punch that doesn’t connect is a swing. There’s no question but that Daina connected with far more punches.
You’re entitled to your opinion Ray but promise me that if you’re ever asked to judge boxing that you’ll say no.
@Setanta O’Toole: don’t reply to him
@anthony davoren: if people only let down there tri colour green white and gold glasses and you would see the decision was correct.
@WqM9AAv3: That’s not the colours of our flag
@Niall Moonan: our flag? Appears our flag these days has all the colours of the rainbow in it
@John Google: Just block him !
This stinks to high he’ll…our girl by far the better boxer….that sport is so corrupt…make mafia look like altar boys
Complete robbery.
I think the only way to show how disgusted we are is for Kellie Harrington to hold a press conference and announce she’s leaving in protest .
I know its crazy but its a crazy decision and someone needs to make a stand.
I love boxing but this way of scoring a fight is crazy . I think if I was a boxer I would leave the sport because if you are the best boxer on the night you may not win because of politics and corruption shame on the judges !!!
Unbelievable I really thought this nonsense was over but here it is as blatant as you could see.
Disgusting shame on France and the referees shame on you robbery on TV everyone seen it.
Why would any boxer bother with the Olympics – go pro and at least make some money if there is corruption . I completely went off Olympic boxing after the Michael Conlon decision a few years ago – it’s a joke
@ David Gaffeny. I would suggest that you wouldnt take her/him out on a date.
Spilt decision either way fair result. We have to look at these fights objectively. We are watching with our green goggles on. We only see the punches thrown by our own fighters. Daina fought well and can consider herself unlucky. We are in danger of becoming completely paranoid now and thinking that the whole boxing world and judges are out to get us. Which is obviously complete nonsense.
@Ray Ridge: do one
@Ray Ridge: are you insane? Or just blind?
@Ray Ridge: as predicted
@Ray Ridge:
Your wrong plain and simple I’ve often seen Irush boxers win tight decisions that could have gone either way .in my opinion there was one honest judge ,two dishonest who persuaded two to swing the 3rd and second rounds .
@Ray Ridge: no, we notice when Irish boxers get screwed but there are plenty others also being screwed as well. Sport Rotten to the core. Needs to be thrown out of Olympics until it’s sorted
@Ray Ridge: Bullshit
@Ray Ridge: you’re a pathetic little man who’s life is so meaningless you have to troll to justify your existence
@Ray Ridge: sad, sad existence you have.
2 nights running 2 of our female boxers robbed home town decisions again Walshe Dean got beaten by a French fighter too that was a bit questionable. I wonder how many French fighters will medal in the boxing
Funny when we win, we deserved to win but when we lose, it’s corruption. Come on folks we Irish are better than this.
@Ray Ridge: you aint irish
@Ray Ridge: you’re an absolute clown. Did you even watch the fight? She won the fight easily you sad little boy. You really got no attention as a child or else you’re still a child
@David Ryan: people keep replying to this dope when he should be ignored
@Ray Ridge: how come we didn’t here many cheers from the French crowd who are known for all their cheering? Oh yeah because the French woman landed very little actually. How the first round was 5-0 moorehouse is beyond me and then also what did the French do the round 5 to take it? Moorehouse was also more aggressive in that round too. You could give the second round to the French but also a tight round. 1st and 3rd were clear for us though
@ David Gaffney. I would suggest you do your homework. Tell me why the IBA banned this person from female boxing for being a male.
@Michael Carroll: can 42 open comments on their article about the Algerian fighter ? Sheds light on the IBA animosity with the IOc and presents new commentary on the IBA 2023 decision. The story is definitely not as black and white as Twitter would have you believe
@Michael Carroll: both boxers were banned from fighting in the Women’s World Chsmpionships. They were not banned from fighting in the male division. You are 100% correct in what you say