Boxing: Controversial defeat for David Nyika

Kiwi boxer David Nyika. Photo / Getty

David Nyika's goal of becoming a boxing world champion has been thwarted by an Olympic champion and some questionable judging.

Kiwi heavyweight Nyika lost his world championships quarter-final in Hamburg by a majority points decision to Russia's Evgeny Tishchenko.

The 4-1 loss was met with exasperation by Nyika, 22, whose movement and speed impressed.

He finished the fight strongly and drew praise from commentators.

However, only a judge from Algeria awarded the win to Nyika, 29-28, meaning the Kiwi won two of three rounds in his eyes.

Three judges made it 29-28 to Tishchenko, while an Irish judge gave all three rounds to the defending champion.

The decision attracted condemnation from boxing pundits on social media, who suggested it was time for the Hamilton-based Nyika to switch to the professional ranks.

A contentious win isn't new for Tishchenko.

There were angry crowd reactions when he was awarded a unanimous win in the heavyweight gold medal fight at last year's Rio Olympics.

Commonwealth Games light heavyweight champion Nyika opened the tournament with a unanimous points win over German Igor Teziev.

Nyika was the lone Kiwi competing at the AIBA event and hoped to become the second male boxer from his country to claim a world championships medal. The first was David Tua, who took bronze in 1991.NZN dbg/bja