Anthony Ogogo's dream of an Olympic boxing gold medal came to an end as he was beaten 16-9 by Brazil's Esquiva Falcao in their middleweight semi-final, and was forced to settle for bronze.
The first two rounds were cagey, nervous affairs, with the pair locked together at 3-3 after opening three minutes and continuing to grapple long into the second, with few clear punches landed by either fighter.
Setting the pace, Ogogo was wary of the Brazilian's fast counters, and a right hand from Falcao in the final half minute of the second, followed by a sharp right uppercut, helped swing the bout in the Brazilian's favour.
Three points up heading into the last, the Brazilian knocked Ogogo to the canvas seconds after the restart with a straight left, and a second knockdown for Ogogo effectively ended his hopes, as the Brazilian cruised home.
Ogogo said: "I was bit tired because I've had such a tough journey to get here. It's disappointing because I've beaten better fighters than him, but he boxed well and nobody could fault me for my effort today.
"Getting here was an ordeal for me, and then getting such a tough draw was also an ordeal. He's had easier fights and you could tell that today. I'm gutted that I couldn't bring home a medal but maybe it will happen next time.
"Obviously I've found it very hard and mentally tiring, but I'm not blaming that. It made it harder but I didn't turn up on the day. I have to look at it that I'm taking home a bronze medal, and that's something a lot of very good fighters haven't got."
