Feathers flew and one of the brightest boxing talents in Team GB fell. In what amounts to an enormous setback for Rob McCracken’s gilded programme, Peter McGrail was beaten in Tokyo by a combination of bad luck and a good Thai on Saturday.
In regards to the poor fortune, it came from McGrail being unseeded, despite the Liverpool featherweight holding medals at world, European and Commonwealth level. In turn he was given a brutally tough opening-round pairing with Chatchai-Decha Butdee and lost by unanimous decision.
The size of that disappointment can be measured by knowing McGrail, 25, was considered one of the strongest contenders for gold in a team that is hardly short of talent.