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Kiaran MacDonald ready to make his name after Commonwealth silver

Kiaran MacDonald ready to make his name after Commonwealth silver

The world now knows the name Kiaran MacDonald.

The 25-year-old flyweight suffered a heart-breaking defeat in his gold medal bout as Indian boxer Amit Panghal took the victory and the podium top step with a unanimous points decision

A bad cut early on proved particularly problematic for the Sunderland fighter, who had breezed through his three previous fights at the Commonwealth Games to reach the final.

But MacDonald conceded he was beaten by the better man on the day before insisting he will look back on his silver medal with pride after impressing on the international stage.

“It’s one of them, I’m absolutely heartbroken but you’ve got to step back, it’s a great achievement but as a fighter, you want to be the best and on top of podiums,” he said.

“I’m bitterly disappointed but when I step back it’s a massive achievement. I’ve had some good fights out here and put my name on the world stage. Long may it continue.

“There were a few head clashes in the bout which disrupted my rhythm, but this is boxing, these things happen. Congratulations to him, he was better on the day, but my time will come.”

This summer, Team England, supported by funding raised by National Lottery players, comprises of over 400 athletes, all vying for medal success.

The Wearside warrior was hugely impressive on his road to the final.

He started his Commonwealth Games campaign with a comprehensive 5-0 points win over Sri Lanka's M Vidanalage Ishan Ranjeewa Senevir in his round of 16 encounter.

Another unanimous point win followed against Botswana’s Rajab Mahommed before he dispatched Jake Dodd by stopping the Welshman in their semi-final collision.

But the gold medal was a step too far for MacDonald, who lost the opening round of the final on all five judges’ scorecards and never recovered as he was handed a 5-0 points defeat.

Yet MacDonald believes his future is bright as he looks towards the Paris 2024 Olympics.

“I do believe I’ll top the podium at future major events,” he said. “I felt it was a good contest. With two high-level operators, you’re going to get that, you’re going to get the best out of each other.

“He was the better man on the day, it’s one of them things. There was nothing I didn’t expect, we knew he was an experienced fighter, he’s the world number two for a reason.

“That’s boxing for you, I’ll be back stronger. You just learn more and more (from these big events), from the World Championships, from the Europeans and from this.

“I just must keep this momentum going. The Olympic qualifiers start next year and then it’s on to the games, that’s where I believe I belong. I want to top the podium.”

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