Wearside boxer Pat McCormack wins gold in Commonwealth Games

Wearside boxer Pat McCormack has claimed gold in the Commonwealth Games.
Pat McCormack. Picture by Owen Humpheys/PA WirePat McCormack. Picture by Owen Humpheys/PA Wire
Pat McCormack. Picture by Owen Humpheys/PA Wire

The 22-year-old from Washington defeated Northern Ireland's Aidan Walsh in the welterweight final in Australia.

Speaking immediately after claiming glory, Pat said he was already looking forward to winning future titles.

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“This feels great, I was a bit young in Glasgow (for the 2014 Commonwealth Games) and two weights lighter so I was killing myself at the weight but since then I have experienced an Olympics and the pressure didn’t get to us. I boxed well when it mattered,” he said.

"I can't wait for the World Championships when I go there I'm going to win gold. I have put myself on the mat now. The judges know me."

Pat said: “I watched Luke’s fight before my semi-final, I thought Luke was throwing the cleaner punches but the other lad was throwing more and Luke didn’t do enough.

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“All day I was fuming after that so I took it out on my Indian opponent and gave him a bit of a hiding.

“All day I was in a mood – then I saw my dad and told him I would make sure that I won.”

McCormack beat Northern Irishman Walsh with a bit to spare to take gold in the 69kg category with a unanimous decision after twin Luke had to settle for bronze in the 64kg.

“He obviously had his tactics to go on the backfoot and try to pinch the fight but I cut him off, I was beating him to the shot and out-worked and out-strengthed him,” said Pat.

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McCormack, who took silver at last year’s European Championships, has looked sharp this year while representing the British Lionhearts, and he has continued that form throughout these Games.

After a cagey start to the fight, McCormack had an early scare when slipped and fell midway through the first round.

But while the first round was tight, he stepped it up in the second with a Walsh unable to cope with a flurry of combinations from the boxer from Washington.

And although Walsh responded well in the final round, McCormack had built up enough of a lead to take a comfortable win.

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