Former WBO interim heavyweight champion Joe Joyce believes that he was “robbed” at the Olympics.
The 38-year-old competed at the 2016 Rio games and he reached the final against Frenchman Tony Yoka, and the decision to award the victory - and gold - to Yoka was subject to investigation given the controversy.
However, Joyce has had an impressive professional career since abandoning the amateur side of the sport, and he returns to action on March 16 after two defeats to Zhilei Zhang. He will take on Kash Ali for his comeback (live on ESPN+ in the US).
Speaking to Yahoo, he looked back on the decision that cost him gold.
He said: “Competing in the Olympics was definitely a career highlight. How many people get to go to the Olympics, let alone medal at them? While the experience was amazing, it was tough for me. I felt like I got robbed of the gold [by French boxer Tony Yoka, in a fight that was subsequently scrutinised by an independent investigation].
“The super-heavyweight final was the last boxing event of the Olympics, so I had to wait right until the end to compete. I was still training and working hard while the other competitors around me had finished and could go out. I could hear them celebrating, and it was hard to stay focused.
“I couldn’t leave the village. Even after the closing party, I couldn’t really relax: the next morning, I had to get up and speak to the media.”
Live on DAZN: Watch William Zepeda vs. Maxi Hughes on March 16