Michaela Walsh of Team Ireland, right, in action against Svetlana Kamenova Staneva of Team Bulgaria during their women's 57Kg round of 16 bout at the North Paris Arena at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Ireland’s boxing tale of woe at the Paris Olympics continued with Michaela Walsh becoming the eighth fighter to fall at the first hurdle.

The Belfast featherweight became a double Olympian in Hall 8 of the North Paris Arena but rarely threatened to cause an upset against veteran Bulgarian Svetlana Kamenova Staneva (34) in a last-16 contest.

A southpaw, she had a significant height advantage over Walsh. This left Walsh with a huge dilemma because if she advanced the Bulgarian would pick her off at will. Instead, she stood off during a low-activity first round, which was virtually impossible to score.

“I felt it was a good enough performance,” said Walsh. “The first round was very, very cagey. Coming back in 5-0 down then was a bit frustrating. I was sort of chasing it after that. I felt I had a very good second and third round and felt the scoring didn’t reflect how close the fight actually was.

“I could have thrown a lot more punches, but I was wary because when I was going in with my flurries, she was very good on the counter. I was very unfortunate probably to meet her in the first round.”

She had marginally more success in the second, but four of the judges scored the round in favour of Staneva, which effectively sealed Walsh’s fate as her opponent was now two points clear on four of their cards.

Walsh threw caution to the wind and came forward more in the final round.

It didn’t impact the judges, though, who scored the round 5-0 for Staneva as she booked a place in the semi-final against Lin-Yu-Ting (Chinese Taipei) on scorecards of 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 29-28.

There will be an interesting undercurrent to this clash. At last year’s World Championships, Staneva lost to Lin-Yu-Ting, but in a decision which is now causing huge controversy at the Paris Games, the International Boxing Association (IBA) suspended Lin-Yu-Ting and Algeria welterweight Imane Khelif for what they claim was the boxers’ “failure to meet the eligibility criteria for participating in the women’s competition”.

As a result of Lin-Yu-Ting’s disqualification, Staneva was awarded the bronze medal. Now, they meet again in Paris.

Michaela Walsh reflected on a “disappointing” week for Irish boxing at the Olympic Games as she became the latest fighter to be knocked out of the competition.

The 31-year-old Belfast fighter lost on Friday by unanimous decision to Bulgarian Svetlana Staneva in the women’s -57kg category.

It means nine of Ireland’s 10 boxers at the Games have been eliminated, with defending Olympic champion Kellie Harrington facing Brazil’s Beatriz Ferreira in the lightweight semi-final on Saturday night.

When asked about Ireland’s record at the Games, Walsh believes some of her team-mates have been “hard done by”.

Speaking post-fight, Walsh said: “I’m fully focused on myself, I’m obviously very disappointed for a lot of my team-mates.

“I feel a lot of them were really hard done by, most of them actually. There doesn’t seem to be any consistency with the judging, but that’s out of our control.

“All we can control is what we do in the ring and whatever those five judges decide outside that’s all that can happen.”

Walsh was competing in her second Olympics and was watched on in the crowd by her boxer brother Aidan, who lost to Makan Traore on Sunday, and she wished Staneva the best for the competition.

“It was a close fight, she’s a great opponent,” Walsh added. “She’s current European champion and I just wish her all the best going forward and hope she can go all the way, she’s a great person as well, but unfortunately we just had to meet first round.”

Staneva will face Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, one of the boxers at the centre of a gender row at the Olympics, in the quarter-finals after she recorded a unanimous decision victory over Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova in their Round of 16 clash.

Irish Boxing Team's Disappointing Performance

The Irish boxing team has faced a string of early exits at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The team's performance has been marred by controversy, with several boxers claiming they were “hard done by” due to inconsistent judging. This has cast a shadow over the team's performance, raising questions about the fairness of the judging system.

Michaela Walsh's Perspective on the Judging

Michaela Walsh expressed her disappointment with the judging, stating that she felt a lot of her teammates were “hard done by” and that there was no consistency in how the judges were scoring the bouts. She emphasized that the boxers could only control their performance in the ring, but the final decision was ultimately in the hands of the judges. This frustration is shared by many athletes who have faced unfavorable decisions during the Games, highlighting a growing concern about the transparency and fairness of judging in Olympic boxing.

A Difficult First Round Match-Up

Michaela Walsh faced a tough opponent in her first-round match-up against Bulgarian Svetlana Staneva, the current European champion. The Bulgarian fighter's height and southpaw stance presented a formidable challenge for Walsh, who was unable to find the space needed to land her signature flurries.

Despite a valiant effort, Walsh ultimately lost the bout by unanimous decision, ending her Olympic journey at the first hurdle. This defeat marks another disappointing outing for the Irish boxing team, as they strive to regain their former glory in the ring.

The Future of Irish Boxing

The Irish boxing team's performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics has raised concerns about the future of the sport in Ireland. With the majority of the team failing to advance beyond the first round, questions are being asked about the team's training and preparation strategies. While the inconsistent judging has played a role in the team's struggles, it is essential for Irish boxing to address the underlying issues that have contributed to their disappointing showing at the Games.

As Michaela Walsh reflects on her own performance and the future of her boxing career, she joins a growing chorus of voices expressing a desire for change within the sport. The hope is that the lessons learned from the 2024 Paris Olympics will pave the way for a stronger and more successful Irish boxing team in the years to come.

Looking Ahead: A Time for Reflection and Change

The 2024 Paris Olympics has been a bittersweet experience for Michaela Walsh, with a second Olympic appearance and a frustrating first-round exit. As she moves forward, she will undoubtedly reflect on the experience and use it as a catalyst for growth and improvement.

The Irish boxing team, as a whole, is now facing a crucial period of reflection and change. The team's disappointing performance highlights the need for a comprehensive assessment of its training, preparation, and overall strategy. By addressing these shortcomings, the team can hope to regain its competitive edge and achieve success on the international stage.

While the immediate future may be uncertain, there is no doubt that the spirit of Irish boxing remains strong. The team will undoubtedly use this setback as an opportunity to learn, adapt, and ultimately, rise again.