Welsh boxer Rosie Eccles found herself at the centre of an Olympic controversy after being knocked out of the women’s 66kg boxing competition by a surprising split-decision in the last 32 round.
Eccles had dominated the three-round bout, with her opponent even being deducted a point in the final round for failing to keep her head up. However, when the decision was announced, it was Poland’s Aneta Rygielska who was declared the victor.
The decision left BBC commentators stunned and sparked boos in the Paris arena, with viewers expressing their outrage on social media.
Both judges who scored the fight evenly at 28-28 favoured Rygielska despite the point deduction. Two other judges awarded the fight to Eccles (30-26 and 29-27), while one scored it 29-27 to Rygielska.
BBC boxing expert Steve Bunce expressed his anger, saying: “I’m genuinely shocked, I’m stunned. I really did think she’d [Rosie Eccles] get it. That was a brutal outcome. We’ve got independent judges here. They went with the one who got deducted a point and she actually fouled. The two judges who had it even voted for the woman who had an infringement. I’m really annoyed. It’s a bad decision.”
The Chepstow fighter, who was expected to challenge for a medal, looked shocked and crestfallen when the announcement was made. Many viewers questioned the integrity of the competition after the result.
Eccles appeared emotional in the aftermath, joining her close friend and compatriot Charley Davison in making an early exit from the North Paris Arena.
“A boxer knows when she’s won a fight, and I knew I’d won the fight,” said Eccles. “I’m really shocked, I don’t know what to say. That was a discipline fight for me, not a hard fight, and I thought I kept to my game. She’s the sort of fighter that just wants to steal a fight, and I thought I did everything I could to stop her stealing it. I just did what I was told when she was holding me. It was so obvious. I did everything I could to punch but I couldn’t when she was holding. I feel like I’m in a dream now – but not a great one.”
Eccles, supported by Aldi’s Nearest & Dearest programme in Paris, was backed by a vocal group of friends and family inside the arena. She will rely on those closest to her to help overcome this particularly bitter pill to swallow.
“I’m just really grateful to everyone who has helped me get here, that’s why I need to speak,” she said. “I need to say thank you. I really appreciate everyone’s support and I’m just really sorry I couldn’t do it.”
