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Sheffield boxer "cheated" out of verdict
SHEFFIELD-trained Joe Murray became the first Great Britain boxer to be beaten at the Olympics Games today, when he lost, in controversial cicrumstances, 17-7 to Gu Yu, of China.
But the English Insitute of Sport product got a rough deal from the officials.
Cheered on by a packed Chinese crowd, Gu seemed to be awarded points whenever he touched Murray – including a knockdown when Murray was hit by Gu's upper arm.
On the other hand Murray's contribution to the bout never seemed to get recognised.
Murray appeared to stagger Gu twice, but neither time did it register a point.
The second time Gu appeared hurt, in the dying moments, the Chinese was awarded a point.
Murray also had reason to be upset at James McNally, the American referee.
Murray saide: "The referee was letting him have it all his own way and the judges were letting him have it his way, so I had to go for a knockout in the end.
"For the knockdown, I hit him with a right hand, but his arm slapped off my head and I went down. If I'd have slipped, he would have ruled it a knockdown, if he'd have touched my stomach they would have given him points.
"I knew what it was going to be like. I've watched the scoring the first four days I've been here and the scoring has been bad, I didn't expect any different.
"The referee showed his true colours. He took two points off the Chinese kid for holding, but then, because he was in his backyard, took two points off me too. We got told if you run around the ring you are docked two points or thrown out, but I didn't hear the ref say 'don't stop running'.
"But this is my first Olympics. I've struggled like mad for the weight, so I will go up now. See if he (Gu] can come and fight me in my own backyard."
To his credit Gu paid tribute to Murray afterwards. "He is strong and I think he is better than me," he said. "I will work hard and I will try my best in every bout."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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