Paris 2024: Dean Clancy beaten in opening lightweight bout

Ireland's Dean Clancy suffered a split-decision defeat to Obada Alkasbeh of Jordan in their 63.5kg bout at the Paris Games.

It was a painful loss for the 23-year-old Sligo lightweight, who will perhaps feel he didn't fully do himself justice against the experienced Alkasbeh, who is appearing at his third Olympics.

In a ferocious opening 30 seconds, Alkasbeh tried to lay down a marker as he unloaded a flurry of shots. Clancy initally responded well, matching his opponent's aggression before executing some nice combinations.

However Alkasbeh didn't let him settle. He shook Clancy with a left-hander and caught him with a trio of jabs to take the first round 4-1 on the judges' scorecards.

Clancy caught the Jordanian with a sweet right hand early in the second round, but it was scrappy fare as Alkasbeh went defensive.

Heading into the third and final round, two of the judges had Alkasbeh two rounds ahead and three had it level. Clancy had to win round three and with 40 seconds to go he got a massive boost when Alkasbeh had a point deducted for hitting the Irishman when he was on the ground.

Three of the judges gave Clancy the final round so the scores were 29-27, 29-27, 27-29, 28-28 and 28-28 with the point deducted. The two judges who had it level had to pick a winner, and they both went for Alkasbeh.

"I knew going in it was going to be a tough fight pace wise," Clancy told RTÉ Sport afterwards.

"It just took me a round to settle. I thought I came into it the second round and I thought I did enough in the third round as well, I thought I caught more eye-catching shots.

"That's the way it goes and I’ll be up cheering my teammates tomorrow, but I’m really disappointed."

"I thought I nicked the third, especially with the point