Team GB boxer Joseph Cordina suffers Rio 2016 elimination to Hurshid Tojibaev

Joe Cordina has suffered a split-decision defeat in the men's 60kg boxing at Rio 2016, falling to Uzbekistan's Hurshid Tojibaev.

Cordina, the reigning European Championship gold medallist, was defeated at the last 16 stage, despite seeing his opponent deducted a point for a punch below the belt.

The 24-year-old Welshman showed bright movement throughout the opening round, and despite being caught with two stinging lefts with just over 30 seconds of the first round, ended the first round level on points.

Tojibaev, considered the favourite for the contest, started the second strongly but Cordina managed to evade his opponent's flurry of punches after he was forced into the corner. The Welshman was then given a great chance to claw his way back into contention when his opponent was penalised for a clear shot below the belt that was immediately pounced upon by the referee.

Despite the reprieve, Cordina struggled to impose himself in the third round and was unable to work his opponent enough. With the Welshman struggling to find any accuracy with his punches, Tojibaev was able to see out the contest relatively untroubled to book his place in the quarter-finals.

Cordina is the latest British boxer to see their Rio campaign ended following eliminations for Lawrence Okolie, Anthony Fowler and Galal Yafai on Monday 8 August.