Team Northern Ireland boxer Jon McConnell claimed a Commonwealth Games gold medal as he beat Wales’ Orlando Holley-Sotomi via split decision at the SEC Centre.
After NI team-mates Michaela Walsh and Kaci Rock were forced to settle for silver medals as they lost their respective finals by unanimous decision, McConnell stepped up in the men’s light-middleweight in impressive fashion for the only boxing gold.
It is also Team NI’s second gold of the Games after Kate O’Connor won the heptathlon on Wednesday.
McConnell, who turned down the chance to appear on Love Island to compete at his first Games, faced his toughest fight in the final against Holley-Sotomi and was rocked by a couple of big left hands from his opponent in the first round.
He composed himself and fought back well to take the second round as Holley-Sotomi was docked a point for catching McConnell on the back of the head.
The NI man again had to absorb some heavy hits in the third but that he did before catching the Welshman with some big punches of his own to win the gold medal on his Commonwealth Games debut.
Two judges scored the bout 30-26 in his favour and two 29-27 while one judge thought Holley-Sotomi won 29-27.
“It doesn’t feel real at the minute. I said I was going to do it and I’ve done it,” McConnell told TNT Sports.
“We knew he was strong. The game plan was to out-box him. He caught me in the first round and I got my scores more in the second round.
“He’s big and he’s strong, fair play to him. It was the matador against the bull, and the matador won today.”
