WE’VE been here before and, unfortunately, we will most likely be here again at some point in the future.
Close calls are a part of boxing - a huge part. Sometimes they go for you, sometimes they don’t.
Take Daina Moorehouse’s World Olympic qualifier exit at the hands of Uzbekistan’s Sabina Bobokulova on Sunday.
So close yet so far, a defeat made all the more gauling by the similar circumstances in which her Olympic dream was kept at arm’s length last summer.
Then, at the European qualifier in June, only French flyweight Wassila Lkhadiri stood between the Bray pocket rocket and a place at Paris 2024.
After winning the first two rounds 3-2 on the judges’ scorecards, Moorehouse was almost there - but Lkhadiri finished strongly to take the last 4-1 and squeeze across the line.
For lightning to strike twice is devastating but, when there is so little between two boxers, claims of robbery are far too easy to reach for.
Unfortunately for Grainne Walsh, in her winner-takes-all showdown with Poland’s Agneta Rygielska, she has due cause to feel beyond bitter after a controversial split decision went against her.
It is important to acknowledge that this was not some kind of one-sided masterclass. The first round was close, a case could have been made for either, but the rangy Rygielska might just have edged it on the outside, catching Walsh on the way in as she struggled to close the space quickly enough.
The third looked a fairly clear Walsh round as she piled on the pressure from the off, determined to leave every drop of sweat in the ring having battled so hard to reach this point after an injury-hit few years left her future in the sport unclear.
But the nub of all contention surrounding the end result hinged on the judges’ scoring of the second round.
Rygielska started well, controlling the first minute or so but, after repeated holding saw a point docked by the referee, it was all Walsh.
Then, as Rygielska attempted to skip along the ropes, Walsh caught her with a perfectly timed right hand that left the Pole on wobbly legs. The referee immediately separated the pair and began a count.
So, a warning, a standing count, and a round which the front-footed Walsh largely dominated.
Yet anybody with eyes was left scratching them in disbelief when the scorecards were shown at the end of the second - judges from Argentina, Norway and Morocco all scoring in favour of Rygielska, 10-9.
That is fairly shocking. In fact, it stinks.
Given the work that has been done to clean up boxing’s image following the farce of Rio 2016, days like these show there is still an awfully long road to travel, whether the International Boxing Association or the International Olympic Committee is at the wheel.
Heading into the third, it was hard to shake that sinking feeling.
Again Walsh was the aggressor and, while Rygielska enjoyed some success on the counter, the better work came from the Offaly woman. Once the bell sounded, she could do nothing but look to the skies and pray it was her day – but it wasn’t.
Rygielska, who comically raised her hand in celebration at the close of that one-sided second round, was ecstatic. As she went to embrace Walsh, the 28-year-old appeared in a state of complete and utter shock as glass eyes stared off into the distance – the Olympic dream, within her grasp moments earlier, now as far away as ever.
The expression on the Irish coaches’ faces said it all too. Given what was at stake, and the manner of defeat, this one will sting for some time.
What makes it all the more difficult for Walsh is the fact there is no guarantee she will get a second bite at the cherry when the final World qualifier takes place in Thailand (May 23-June 3).
Having earned this shot, she knew that 2022 World champions Amy Broadhurst and Lisa O’Rourke were both waiting back home, ready for any future opportunity that may present itself.
Broadhurst had already indicated she would turn pro straight away should Walsh nail down the 66kg spot in Paris.
Now the door has creaked open and, despite the devastating nature of this near miss, Walsh could have to fend off two of the top talents in the world – never mind Ireland – to ensure she travels to Bangkok.
Speaking to The Irish News back in January, Patricia Heberle – High Performance director of the Irish Athletic Boxing Association – admitted head coach Zaur Antia would face some “very difficult decisions” if boxers didn’t qualify at certain weights.
“We have already put it in the programme that when we come back from the first qualifier, we have a week of evaluation – evaluating boxers who have gone to the qualifier, evaluating the boxers who didn’t go to the qualifiers, and then we have to sit with the selection panel and Zauri has to determine whether he’s got a boxer he wants to go again, or he may say ‘you know what, I’ve got another boxer fit’.
“If we talk about the women’s 66, what brilliant talent we have. Amy Broadhurst has been carrying a shoulder injury, Lisa O’Rourke, a ferocious talent, broke a finger. Grainne’s going to the first one, we’d love Grainne to qualify, but [if she doesn’t] you come back and it’s a nightmare for Zauri because he’s got to look at some very talented boxers and make some very difficult decisions.”
Grainne Walsh should be celebrating right now, drinking in the moment with her family and friends in Busto Arsizio. Instead, she will have to haul herself off the floor and get up for another fight.
She has done it once – she can do it again.