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.
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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.
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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.”
Walsh wins third Commonwealth Games silver
Michaela Walsh had to settle for silver as she won her fourth Commonwealth Games medal [Getty Images]
Holy Family fighter Walsh, who has earned a medal in each of her four successive Games appearances, has claimed a third silver after also coming second in 2014 and 2018.
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But she missed out on the chance to add a second gold to the one she won in Birmingham four years ago after being outclassed by Jaismine.
The decorated 33-year-old also won gold in 2022, and joins bowler Neil Booth, shooter Martin Millar plus Mike Bull and Lady Mary Peters from athletics on four medals.
Only shooter David Calvert has won more medals with eight, four of which were gold.
Three of the five judges scored the fight 29-28 while the other two gave it 30-27 with all in favour of Jaismine.
Walsh made a slow start and had an uphill battle after a cagey first round which she lost 3-2.
The second was a much closer affair and while she went all out for the stoppage in the third, her efforts were in vain as Jaismine did enough to win and claim the gold.
Kaci Rock won a silver medal on her Commonwealth Games debut [Getty Images]
“I felt it was a really close fight,” Walsh told BBC Sport NI.
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“When you head into the final round and you down on the judges you have to go for it, and it was an honour to share a ring with her. She is a world champion but I thought I could win that today.
“Today was her day but I’ll come again, for sure.”
Rock comes away from her first Games with NI’s fourth silver after falling short against England’s Sacha Hickey.
Hickey just had too much for 23-year-old Rock in an entertaining encounter, with four judges scoring it 30-27 and one 29-28 for the English fighter.
She edged the first two rounds and pushed on in the third to comfortably take victory.
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“I came for gold and I’m leaving with silver, but it’s the next best thing,” Rock said.
“There’s still so much to come from me. I’m proud of how far I’ve come but congrats to Sacha, she deserved it and I’m delighted for her.”
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