The 17-year-old was disappointed, McDougall said, because the bout was over in a flash in a championship staged only when a platform is required for selection to a bigger event.
However, the Kiwi mentors knew what skills Nicol possessed but regrettably it was one of those days when things didn't pan out.
"We thought we had prepared well for someone who is a power puncher," he said, revealing the plan was not to stand in front of Ioane because he was going to unload.
McDougall said Nicol probably needed another year to be stronger.
Three male Kiwi boxers are in the finals - Kasib Murdoch-McKeitch, of Dunedin, in the 60kg grade, Raymond Seamanu (64kg), of Wainuiomata, and Livai Filiama (91kg), of Auckland.
He said Samoa boxing was riding on the crest of the wave of success of light heavyweight Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali (81kg) who won silver at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April.
McDougall has sat his star two international coaches' course and should find out in a month if he has passed. When he obtains his credentials, it'll enable him to "be in the field of play" of global meetings.
"I'll be able to be in and around the ringside with the boxers so it's really positive for us and Hawke's Bay boxing because we'll keep developing more coaches up to a good level."
The Kiwi contingent return home from Samoa on Saturday.
