Irish boxer suffers controversial loss in New York

On the undercard of the high profile clash between Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney, McComb – who is coached by Pete Taylor – boxed beautifully against unbeaten American Arnold Barboza Jr. But he didn’t get the verdict going down on a split 2-1 decision.

It was result, however. which again calls into question the standard of judging in boxing. Judge Benoit Roussel scored the contest 98-92 in favour of McComb which was how most observers saw the ten round fight.

However, the other two judges scored the fight for the Inter-Continental super lightweight belt 96-94, 97-94 in favour of the short priced favourite Barbonza Jr. As is normal in boxing there was no explanation as to how there could be such a huge discrepancy in the scoring.

But the verdict underlined how difficult it is for an underdog to get a decision against the so-called ‘house fighter’ in his own backyard. Thanks to this most undeserving win the American moves to 29-0 while McComb drops to 18-2.

There was a sensational result in the main event when Ryan Garcia defied all the odds to end Haney’s unbeaten record courtesy of three knock-downs and win on a majority 2-0 decision.

Haney, however, remains the WBC super lightweight World champion as Garcia was 3.2lb overweight and forfeited a large portion of his purse to Haney.

Meanwhile, at the European amateur championships in Belgrade Dean Clancy, who has qualified for the Paris Olympics, is through to the last eight having won his opening bout at 63.5kg today. He will meet Spain’s Oier Ibarreche Conde in the last eight on Wednesday.

Also through to the quarterfinals is featherweight Adam Hession following a 5-0 win over Belgium’s Vasile Usturoi.