Kurt Walker has missed out on a medal at the Tokyo Olympics after losing by split decision to American boxer Duke Ragan.

Walker lost on a narrow scoreline (3:2), which came down to the final round of the featherweight quarter-final after the Belfast boxer recovered from a slow start.

Ragan took the opening round on all five cards as he displayed impressive hand speed and clearly had the better of proceedings.

Walker came flying out of the traps in the next round and only a brief medical disruption to check on the cut from his previous bout, which had reopened, stopped his momentum.

Two judges gave the second round to Ragan despite Walker's improvement, meaning the Irishman needed to dominate the final three minutes.

Ragan showed his nous by making the final round a messy one, continually holding Walker and also producing some good scoring shots with just over a minute to go.

The Lithuanian, Peruvian and Australian judges favoured Ragan on a tight scorecard, while the Algerian and Kazakhstani gave it to Walker, as the American professional guaranteed a medal and left Walker empty-handed.

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"Tough but it was a great fight," Walker told RTÉ Sport afterwards.

"I knew he was going to wait for me. I pushed a little bit too late but I'm proud of myself. I won two rounds out of three.

"He had a good first round, that was it. I was trying to find my distance and so was he, he was just a bit sharper in the first and it won him the fight.

"Just so close ( a decision).

"I'm proud of myself, I beat the world champion (Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov in the last 16).

"I showed everyone back home how good I am. They only see us once every four years but a lot more people will know my name after these Olympics."

As to whether he'll be back for Paris in three years' time?

"Possibly. I'm only 26. I have another eight years of boxing at least in me and I'm only getting better. We'll see."

Earlier, Aidan Walsh was forced to withdraw from his semi-final bout due to injury.

"He's an Olympic bronze medallist and you can never take that away from him," said Walker of his team-mate.

"It is what it is. It's just unlucky but he's a great fighter and will bounce back. He'll probably win another Olympic medal."