McCormack suffers setback in Olympic bid

The 20-year-old was beaten by Hovhannes Bachkov, from Armenia, in this afternoon’s light-welterweight quarter-final.

It’s a set-back to McCormack, though not the end of the road.

There are two events left where he can clinch a place at the Olympic Games.

Three spots are up for grabs at the APB/WSB qualifying event in Sofia, Bulgarua from May13-22.

And, should the Washington boxer miss out there, the last chance saloon will be the Final World Olympic qualifying competition in Baku, from June 7-19.

Five spots are on offer in Azerbaijan where there will be no room for error.

What will be of concern to McCormack and GB Boxing bosses will be that he did not reach at least the last four in Samsun this week.

The ABA Champion went into the tournament as one of the in-form U64 kilo operators on the planet.

Unlucky to be beaten in both the European and World competitions last year by Russian ace, Vitaly Dunaytsev, McCormack has been one of the form men in 2016.

He beat leading American Gary Russell in Miami and defeated Mexico’s Raul Curiel, who has already qualified for Rio, in two outstanding World Series of Boxing triumphs.

Defeat to Bachkov is no disgrace.

The Armenian title holder is a regular fixture in the major championships and, at the age of 23 with over 150 bouts behind him, is no mug.

But McCormack was expected to get through to the semis where a mouthwatering showdown with top see Lorenzo Sotomayor, from Azerbaijan, was eagerly anticipated.

The classy Wearsider must now re-group and go again in Bulgaria next month.