SPORTS CORRS
PAGE: 30
EDITION: 1
AUCKLAND, Tuesday.
DAVE Anderson's bid for gold in the boxing arena failed when he lost
by the narrowest of margins in the semi-finals of the light-weight
division against Uganda's Godfrey Nyakana.
The 24-year-old from Glasgow's Bellahouston Club was beaten on a 3-2
majority decision, but did himself and Scotland proud with a brave
performance. After having beaten England's Peter Richardson in the
quarter-finals, however, the British Rail window cleaner had his heart
set on going all the way to the gold medal.
Anderson, however, now has to be content with a bronze, just as he was
at the European championships in Athens last summer. And he must now
make the decision as to whether he continues in the amateur game and
chases an ABA title -- he won the feather-weight division in 1988 -- or
accept one of several offers which will be made for him to turn
professional.
England's John Irwin faced controversy after having clinched a place
in the feather-weight final, but gritty Belfast fly-weight Wayne
McCullough found the going much smoother as he took a step closer to his
dream of a gold medal.
Irwin's Australian opponent, Jamie Nicolson, the world championship
bronze medallist, was disqualified after having received three public
warnings for barging. Nicolson crumpled disbelievingly to the canvas as
Canadian referee Omer Gagnon issued the third caution, 43 seconds from
the end of the bout. The 18-year-old Australian staggered miserably to
his feet, and returned to his corner in tears.
Ironically, it was 20-year-old joiner Irwin who received the first
warning from Gagnon for holding in the second round, much to the dismay
of the large audience who saw Nicolson as the chief culprit. The referee
was cheered, though, when he handed out a warning to Nicolson for his
first barging offence, and again when he issued the second caution. But
there were groans when the Aussie was automatically disqualified. Irwin
had no complaints and looked to be marginally ahead on points anyway.
Irwin, who has yet lose in England colours, fights Tanzanian Jazi Ally
for the gold medal. Nicolson will receive a bronze medal, despite his
disqualification.
The 19-year-old church caretaker McCullough had no problems in
stalling Maurice Maina's progress, stunning his Kenyan semi-final
opponent with ferocious hooks and delighting the crowd with his quick
footwork and tireless work-rate. McCullough, who is now assured of a
silver medal, earned a rousing reception from the packed audience at
Auckland's Logan-Campbell Centre and confirmation of his comprehensive
points win was a mere formality.
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