Ray Moylette looks unlikely to get a second shot at qualification for the Olympics, despite questions emerging over the criteria set by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) for the final Rio 2016 qualifier in Vargas, Venezuela.
The Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) are believed to be investigating a possible appeal over Moylette’s opening-round defeat to Armenian light-welterweight Hovhannes Bachkov at the ongoing final Olympic qualifier in Vargas last Monday night.
Former European champion Moylette’s hopes of booking a ticket to Rio had appeared to be dashed following that loss, but Bachkov’s eligibility to compete in Vargas has come under scrutiny due to doubts over whether he meets the formal criteria to box at the tournament.
The ongoing qualifier is only open to professional fighters and certain boxers who participated in the APB and WSB tournaments run by AIBA – the body that controls what was ‘amateur’ boxing.
AIBA controversially opened up the Vargas qualifier - and with that move, the possibility of Olympic qualification - to professionals last month following the body’s earlier efforts to blur the traditional lines between amateur and professional boxing with their APB and WSB competitions.
Moylette was the only Irishman eligible to enter the Vargas qualifier thanks to his participation in the latter event, but he suffered a comprehensive points loss to Bachkov on Monday.
However, it has emerged that the Armenian did not enter the WSB or APB, while it is understood that he has never boxed as a professional.
The uncertainty over Bachkov’s status has led the Irish association (IABA) to investigate the matter as they consider the possibility of an appeal in order to let Moylette re-enter the qualification tournament in Vargas due to his opponent’s supposed ineligibility.
However, an AIBA spokesman last night claimed that Bachkov was granted a special derogation to box at the tournament.
It is understood that the Armenian had been due to box at last month’s world Olympic qualifier in Baku, but he did not enter the tournament due to political tensions and conflict between his native country and the host nation.
“The Armenian national federation sent a letter to AIBA before the Baku qualifier, asking if they could have a derogation to participate in Vargas, Venezuela in view of the existing conflict between the two countries – Armenia and Azerbaijan – at the moment,” said the AIBA spokesman.
“The conflict does have big geopolitical consequences in the region and the two countries aren’t exactly friends so AIBA and the eligibility commission studied the case and decided that it was the best decision for everybody to allow him [Bachkov] to box in Vargas rather than go to Baku because of his [nationality],” added the spokesman.
A source has suggested that the Irish association (IABA) are still currently considering their next move, but it now seems unlikely that they will appeal Moylette’s loss.
Bachkov is due to fight in the 64kg semi-finals today, with the top three 64kg boxers in Vargas sealing their Olympic place, which means time is of the essence if an appeal is to be lodged.
Professional boxers have had mixed results at the tournament so far, with many suffering defeat, although Cameroon’s Hassan N’Dam (a former WBO world middleweight pro champion) progressed to the last eight of the light-heavyweight division with victory over American Jonathan Esquivel on Monday night.
N’Dam defeated Ireland’s Andy Lee at the 2004 Olympics, turning professional after the Games before his U-turn to compete at this week’s qualifier.
Eight Irish boxers have qualified for Rio, including Olympic medallists Katie Taylor, Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan.
