Tokyo 2020: Team GB boxer Pat McCormack to fight for GOLD after semi-final opponent Aidan Walsh pulls out with injury
TEAM GB star Pat McCormack will fight for boxing gold on Tuesday after semi-final opponent Aidan Walsh pulled out through injury.
The Irish boxer, 24, was due to take on his British rival at 4.03am on Sunday morning for a place in the welterweight final.
But Walsh has not recovered from the ankle injury he sustained in his quarter-final win and has withdrawn from the semis.
Walsh left the arena in a wheelchair following his win over Merven Clair of Mauritius on Friday morning.
Shortly afterwards the fighter’s sister, Michaela Walsh, insisted Aidan was keen to fight for a place in the final.
But subsequent scans on his injured ankle have ruled Walsh out of the fight.
That means McCormack, 26, has been given a bye into the final and is guaranteed at least a silver medal in Tokyo.
The Team GB ace will fight the winner of Cuba’s Roniel Iglesias and Andrey Zamkovoy of the ROC on Tuesday morning at 11.05am.
McCormack has already powered past Aliaksandr Radzionau and Bobo Usmon Baturov to reach the semis.
‘INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT’
On Walsh’s withdrawal, Ireland’s boxing chief Bernard Dunne said: “What Aidan did this week is an incredible achievement.
“His performance throughout the tournament has been outstanding.
“It is great to see him write his name in the annals of Irish sport.
“Just over two years ago we selected Aidan for his first major championship.
“Over the past few months that potential that we had identified has grown and developed into a world class performance.
“That reflects greatly on the level of preparation he has put in ahead of these Games.
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“These are a unique Games, and I’m really impressed with the team itself.
“They’ve all been rallying around each other, and I know that we will continue to do so.
“We have two more boxers hoping to win some medals, in Kellie and Kurt, and we will collectively make sure that they are ready.”