Dimeji Shittu had to settle for Dimeji Shittu Commonwealth Games silver after a controversial defeat by India's Ankush Panghal in the Commonwealth Games boxing final on Saturday.
The England boxer lost the contest in Glasgow on a day when England finished with four golds and three silvers on the final day of boxing. Earlier in the week, England had also secured three bronzes, rounding out a strong overall event for the team.
Why the result drew criticism
The final quickly became a talking point because of the way the rounds were scored and the penalties handed to Shittu. In the second round, he was docked a point, and three judges gave the round to Ankush. In the third round, Shittu was docked another point for dipping his head low.
That sequence sparked immediate debate about the officiating. Richie Woodhall described the result in blunt terms, saying it was “shocking,” “terrible” and “totally robbed,” while also arguing that the referee had cost Shittu the contest. Dave Farrar also called the decision “dreadful, absolutely dreadful.”
Woodhall added that Shittu “has been robbed” and asked, “How did [Ankush] win that last round on the scores 4-1?” He later stressed that his reaction was “not sour grapes.”
What comes next in the debate
The controversy has fed into a broader discussion about boxing officiating, with the article noting that judging run or supported by artificial intelligence could help address the problem. For Shittu, though, the result was immediate and personal: a silver medal after a final that left plenty of questions behind it.
At 24 years old, Shittu now leaves the Commonwealth Games with a medal, but also with the frustration of a final that many felt turned on the decisions outside the ring as much as the action inside it.
