Matthew McCole beaten at the semi-final stage in Romania

It was a disappointing day for Donegal boxer Matthew McCole who lost out to the Pan American Champion and Olympic fighter Alvarez Marco Verde in the 71kg semi-final of the Golden Belt in Romania. 

McCole, who is from Dungloe, but boxes out of Illies Golden Gloves most recently picked up a bronze medal as part of the Ulster High-Performance group that competed in Kaunas, Lithuania back in March. 

However, there was no success for him in Romania as he lost out at the semi-final stages in what was a unanimous decision.  

“Look it was a good fight and I started off well, but when the gameplan changed, I wouldn’t say it was more negative of a fight, it just seemed to change a bit, but then I got back into the fight in the third round, I was always in the fight, but there was probably that little bit of sharpness lacked,” McCole told Donegal Live. 

“I was creating chances, but I probably wasn’t pouncing on them like I should. I didn’t feel out of place. I know there’s a good bit left in me, so, if I can get that out of me when I’m in the ring, I’ll not only be competing at this level, but I’ll be winning, but it’s all experience.” 

With the Olympics coming up, the Donegal man will have a break over the summer to recharge and take time off, while his opponent today will be gearing up for Paris in a few weeks. 

“Verde is a world-class operator, he’s ranked number four in this category and in his last fight he beat the Olympic champion, so that’s who you’re fighting and I’m just annoyed that I didn’t do better, it’s not nice being beaten at the end of the day, but I can take positives in knowing that I’m in with the best that’s out there,” said McCole.