British Boxer Orie Exits Olympics in Controversial Decision

In a surprising turn of events, British boxer Orie faced an early exit from the Olympic tournament after a contentious decision in his last-16 bout against Armenia's Davit Chaloyan. Despite appearing to dominate the match with a series of powerful punches, Orie was left in disbelief when the judges awarded the victory to Chaloyan. "I can’t believe it," he expressed, acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding the judging process. Orie, who has roots in Russia but moved to the UK at the age of seven, joins fellow British boxers Charley Davison and Rosie Eccles in expressing frustration over their early departures from the competition. The outcome raises questions about the integrity of boxing judging, especially as the sport's future in the Olympics hangs in the balance. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stripped the International Boxing Association of its rights to oversee Olympic boxing events due to ongoing concerns about judging standards. With the need for a new governing body for international boxing pressing, the sport's inclusion in the upcoming LA 2028 Olympics remains uncertain. Orie, while accepting the judges' decision, refrained from making definitive statements about fairness, stating, "It’s too soon for me to start saying it’s fair or unfair." As the competition continues, only two British boxers, Chantelle Reid and Lewis Richardson, remain in the tournament, set to compete on Wednesday. The British boxing team, which previously secured six medals in Tokyo, has faced significant challenges in Paris.