Aidan Walsh bows out of Olympic qualifying tournament

Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Aidan Walsh has exited the Paris Olympic qualification tournament in Italy after a second-round defeat.

Competing in the 71kg category, the Belfast light middleweight produced a commanding performance to beat UAE's Husain Alkandari on Tuesday, but his competition has come to an end after coming out the wrong side of a unanimous 5-0 decision by another Tokyo Olympian, Brazilian Wanderson de Oliveira.

Olympic qualification required progression at least as far as the semi-finals, but his Paris dream isn't yet fully over.

The 26-year-old will have to wait to see if he is included for May’s second World qualifier in Thailand.

Walsh’s camp were unimpressed with the referee, who docked Walsh two points in the second round for hitting and holding/pushing, forcing the Belfast man to change his approach and go on the attack in the third round.

Oliveira ticked off the round with a string of uppercuts leaving Walsh bloodied and closed the stronger fighter.