Paris 2024: Aidan Walsh bows out after split decision loss

Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Aidan Walsh bowed out of Paris 2024 after he was beaten by split decision in his last-32 fight against France's Makan Traore.

The Belfast fighter unanimously took the opening round of the men's 71kg bout but lost the second and had a point deducted for use of the head in the third as the 27-year-old's bid to medal at back-to-back Games came to an end.

Walsh, who returned to action ahead of this year's qualifying tournaments after 14 months out as he dealt with injuries and addressed his mental health, immediately took up a southpaw stance against an opponent who won bronze at last year's European Games and had a partisan home crowd in his favour.

Their displeasure was in evidence after Walsh took the first round 10-9 on all the judges scorecards.

In the second, Walsh looked to maintain his distance from Traore who looked to press forward and cut the angles.

Ultimately, Walsh was only deemed the second round winner on the German judge's card, while the other four plumped 10-9 to Traore.

Seconds into the final round, Walsh found himself on the end of a heavy right hand, with the Frenchman again the aggressor while Walsh looked for opportunities to counter, before the Belfast fighter upped the ante in the closing minute of the fight.

However, a deducted point for holding proved costly for Walsh and Traore was confirmed as the winner 29-27 on four of the cards, with the other level at 28-28. The Irishman sportingly raising his opponent's arm in the ring before exiting the arena.

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