OLYMPICS / Barcelona 1992: Williams beaten

THE first of Britain's four boxing quarter-finalists, the light-flyweight Rowan Williams, was convincingly outpointed by Roel Velasco of the Philippines, but not, according to the coach Ian Irwin, as convincingly as the 17-6 scoreline suggested.

Williams was not credited with a single point in the second round, which he started trailing 4-3 and ended 9-3 down. 'I would have accepted a two or three points difference, but not this,' Irwin said. 'Giving Rowan nothing at all in the second was ridiculous. They are making things look silly.

'I always thought boxing was not just about power, but penetrating your opponent's guard. Rowan did that, but they didn't give him the points.'

Williams himself was more restrained. 'I've no complaints about the result. He landed the cleaner shots and I hope he goes all the way,' he said.

Ireland assured themselves of at least two bronze medals when Michael Carruth and Wayne McCullough both reached the semi-finals within an hour of each other.

Carruth, a welterweight, scored a famous points win over one of the favourites, Germany's Andreas Otto, and McCullough, outpointed the Nigerian bantamweight Mohammed Sabo.