SCOTLAND’S Lennon Mulligan just missed out on a place in the Final of the Enrique Rodriguez Cal Memorial Tournament in Spain this afternoon.
The Rob Roy boxer lost a 3-2 split decision to France’s Enzo Borrel in the 51kg Semi-Finals of the inaugural Under-22 competition being held in Palencia, Northern Spain.
The 21-year-old Scot started the contest coming forward behind his jab, as he tried to nail down his slippery opponent, who was landing counter blows on the backfoot, with the French boxer taking the first round from all five of the ringside judges.
However, the 2022 Commonwealth Games representative came out more aggressive in the second round as he closed the distance and was throwing hooks and uppercuts in close, although was still caught by some counters from his French counterpart.
It was a split round from the ringside officials, with three judges siding with the French boxer in the middle round.
That proved to be crucial as despite winning the third and final round clear with some more measured aggression, Lennon would miss out on going for Gold tomorrow after scores of 29-28, 29-28, 28-29, 28-29, 27-30.
Boxing Scotland Performance Director and National Coach Craig McEvoy said: “Lennon started slow in the first round and slowed down to the French boxers pace and was caught with some eye-catching counters.
“But he upped the pace and work-rate in the second round and I thought edged it, before he then won the last round big.
“It is a bit bittersweet as I thought he done enough to win the bout.”
Th result leaves Renfrewshire’s Aaron Cullen as Scotland’s sole remaining boxer in the competition, as he will compete in the 54kg Final tomorrow against Ukraine’s Dmytro Kolisnichenko.
Enrique Rodriguez Cal Memorial Tournament Result;
51kg Semi-Final – Lennon Mulligan (SCO) lost to Enzo Borrel (FRA) via 3-2 split decision.