Sean McComb eliminated from World Championships by Cuban star

Sean McComb bowed out of the World Championships in Germany tonight.

The Belfast light welter took on Cuban #2 seed Andy Cruz Gomez in the Last 16 and fell to a unanimous decision defeat after a high quality bout in which he looked well at home against a top opponent.

McComb had defeated Brazilian Joedison De Jesus in the Round of 32 on Friday and entered the ring tonight still sporting a nick on his right eyelid.

Cruz had qualified for the Rio Olympics at bantamweight but had grown out of the class, paving the way for countryman Robeisy Ramirez to claim gold. Since then he has been dominating in the World Series of Boxing and also won gold at this year’s American Championships.

A cagey opener saw both try to establish the jab, with little of note landing, with McComb hitting home with some bodyshots and Cruz landing a glancing overhand right.

Cruz began to find his range in the second, and caused McComb to momentarily stumble back onto the ropes.

The third, McComb’s strongest, saw the Turf Lodge southpaw land with greater frequency in an open first half, before a tactical battle of the jabs dominated the stretch.

A close fight, the scorecards however would paint a misleading picture. All five judges gave every round to the Cuban, three of whom would also inexplicably deem one of the rounds to be a 10-8.

Brendan Irvine, Joe Ward, and Dean Gardiner remain in the tournament in Hamburg and all three are in action tomorrow.

Photo Credit: Laszlo Geczo Photography