Delicious Orie out of Paris 2024 after controversial defeat
Delicious Orie’s Olympic dream is over after a controversial opening round defeat to Davit Chaloyan.
Bilston super heavyweight Orie lost on a 3-2 split decision to his Armenian opponent to continue GB Boxing’s nightmare start to Paris 2024.
Orie was the fourth British boxer to compete at the Games and the fourth to be beaten in their opening bout, though this loss was the cruellest of the lot.
"I can’t believe it. I’m absolutely gutted," said Orie. “For the past eight years, I’ve dreamt about that Olympic gold medal and it’s been taken away from me.
"It could be me, it could be the judges, but at the end of the day, that’s what’s happened. I feel like I’ve let myself down and my family."
The 25-year-old Birmingham 2022 gold medallist, who beat Chaloyan at last summer’s European Games, appeared to land significantly more punches through the three rounds.
But after taking the first on all five scorecards, it was Chaloyan who came back, getting the nod from three judges in the second round to set up a thrilling finale.
Both fighters went for it over the closing three minutes, yet it was Orie who appeared to land more often and with cleaner shots. Four of the judges disagreed, giving the round to Chaloyan meaning his hand was raised at the finish.
Orie, who had entered the ring smiling, left it wearing a look of disbelief.
Defeat brings an abrupt end to Orie’s amateur career, with the former Colton Hills student now set to turn professional.
Born in Moscow to a Nigerian father and Russian mother, who moved their family to the UK when he was aged seven, Orie did not take up boxing until he was 18, having been inspired by watching Anthony Joshua.
He had dreamed of following his hero by becoming Olympic champion but that road has now reached a rather unsatisfactory conclusion.
“I knew I had to go in strong and hard but I didn’t want to overcommit myself," said Orie. "That was the result, I have to accept it and move on."