Wales boxer Sean McGoldrick has admitted that he was "devastated" to bow out in the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games on Friday.
McGoldrick, who won gold in Delhi four years ago, had already secured a bronze medal in the bantamweight division entering his semi-final with Michael Conlan.
However, a clash of heads in the second round forced the referee to stop the contest, with Conlan adjudged to be ahead on points at the time.
"Obviously I am devastated. It was not the outcome I wanted. I would rather have gone three rounds and lost three rounds to him, he is a world-class fighter," McGoldrick told Sports Mole.
"It is what it is. It is a big shame. It is obviously the downside of amateur boxing without headguards. I prefer it without the headguards but that is the downside to it."
When asked to elaborate on whether the lack of headguards is a serious problem, he added: "Potentially. It is not really my place to say. Me personally I prefer it without the headguards, but like I said, there is a downside to it."
It is currently unclear whether Conlan will be deemed fit enough to make the final after opening up a cut that had been suffered in his first match of the competition.
Matt Law
