Kurt Walker's brave medal bid has ended in Tokyo after his featherweight quarter-final defeat on a split decision to Duke Ragan of the USA.
Following on from Aidan Walsh's forced withdrawal from his welterweight semi-final due to injury, it has proved a disappointing morning for the Irish boxing team, although Walsh will return home with the bronze medal.
Walker had hoped to secure at least that against the 23-year-old from Ohio and it went right down to the wire as he recovered from an early set-back to make it a real contest.
In the end Ragan, who had former Ireland head coach Billy Walsh in his corner, got the nod from the Lithuanian, Australian and Peruvian judges while the Algerian and Kazaakhstani judges felt the Irishman had done enough.
Ragan turned pro last year and is on Top Rank's roster in the States and while Walker came out in positive fashion it was quickly clear that Ragan was a classy operator, and his opponent managed to land some good combinations in what proved to be a difficult first round for the Irishman.
At the end of it, Ragan was 10-9 ahead on all five judges' cards and the task got tougher for Walker in the second, when a small cut opened up over his eye, but he put in a massive effort.
Upping the tempo, he took the round 3-2 and it was level on three cards going into the last one.
Walker tore into the third round, using up his remaining energy, and both boxers were out on their feet in the closing stages, though crucially Ragan did get through to land a couple of punches late on and perhaps that was enough to secure the victory.
Walker had warmed up with his debut win in Tokyo over the Spaniard, Jose Brotos, eight days ago.
Then he sent the hotly fancied Uzbek, top seed Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov, out of the tournament - propelling himself into the medal fight with Ragan.
But the American had inside knowledge of Walker as he had Walsh in his corner.
It was unlucky on 2019 European champion Walker who, 16 months ago, was seen as Ireland's hottest prospect for the Olympics.
But he was a shock loser at London's Copper Box Arena in March of last year - literally 24 hours before the shutters came down on the Olympic qualifiers.
Walker was in limbo until he learned that his world ranking earned him his place on the plane to Japan.
Speaking after the bout, he said: "It was a good fight, I pushed on too late. I won two rounds out of three. It was so close.
"I'm proud of myself, I beat the world champion.
"I showed everyone back home. They only see this every four years so I showed everyone how good I am.
"People will know my name after these Olympics."
Earlier, Walsh was forced to pull out of his welterweight semi-final due to an ankle injury.
The Belfast boxer takes home the bronze medal following his quarter-final victory against Merven Clair of Mauritius on Friday.
After he was awarded the fight, Walsh leapt in the air in a celebration and landed awkwardly, causing the injury.
The medics gave him time to recover but he was withdrawn from his scheduled fight with GB's Pat McCormack earlier this morning.
Kellie Harrington will fight for a medal against Algeria's Imane Khelif on Tuesday morning.
