Women’s World Boxing Championships: Michaela Walsh alleges ‘corruption’ played role in defeat
Michaela Walsh claims “corruption” plays a role in her unanimous decision at the World Boxing Championships between Serbia and Jela Brankovic.
Home fighter Brankovic won the first round and won a 4-1 split decision in the final round of the 58kg race judges, while Belfast boxer Walsh forced a 3-2-point strike decision in the second match.
Overall, the sixth seed Brankovic was awarded the victory by all five judges.
Belfast fighter Walsh, 31 years old, Posted on her Instagram,,,,, External Her “dreams were stolen” and she refused to “let corruption define my story.”
“I played in the World Championships against my hometown boxers and dominated the fight,” she said.
“It’s obvious. But, somehow, the decision was against me.”
The Irish Sports Boxing Association (IABA) boycotted the men’s and women’s amateur world championships by 2023 in protest of the way the sport is governed by the International Boxing Association (IBA).
In October, the IABA’s member club voted to remove any references from the IBA from its constitution, although it remains a member of the member’s participation in the event.
Both IBA and IABA have been linked to Walsh’s comments and Brankovic’s turn.
