Horror Commonwealth Games KO leaves boxer sprawled on canvas after collapsing through ropes as doctor calls for help
COMMONWEALTH Games boxer Refiloe Thai suffered a brutal first round knockout against Orlando Holley-Sotomi.
Lesotho’s Thai, 21, collapsed through the ropes after a huge blow from Wales’ Holley-Sotomi, 22, in their 70kg boxing quarter-final on Wednesday.
Holley-Sotomi’s right hand proved devastating as the bout lasted little over a minute.
Thai’s head dropped before Holley-Sotomi landed a second punch to force the Lesotho star through the ropes and on to the canvas.
The Welshman then stood over Thai as the referee called a sudden end to the fight.
He had already defeated England‘s 24-year-old Paddy Hewitt 4-1 in the round of 16.
TNT Sports commentator Dave Farrar praised the winner Holley-Sotomi as Glasgow’s weather chaos unfolded outside the SEC Centre.
Farrar said: “We’ll look at the Glasgow rain for a bit while he gets treatment. There’s quiet all around the place. The doctors are just looking at him and taking their time with him.
“That’s absolutely the right thing to do. It’s certainly a medal for him, but I thought he showed great class that he didn’t even celebrate that as he saw his opponent on his way down.”
SunSport has been told Refiloe is OK after the knockout, but is devastated at the defeat.
The Lesotho boxer also claims his Welsh opponent threw a punch after the referee had told them to break, although he did not say it was deliberate.
Holley-Sotomi is now looking to secure Wales’ second gold medal of the Commonwealth Games.
Team-mate Ruby Evans, 19, secured the nation’s first gold medal after winning the women’s floor gymnastics event on Tuesday.
Rosie Eccles, 30, and Ioan Croft, 24, won boxing gold for Wales during the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the 70kg and men’s 67kg events, respectively.
Holley-Sotomi is a three-time Welsh national champion and won a bronze medal at the European Boxing U23 Championships last year.
Mauritius’ Merven Clair, 33, is up next for Holley-Sotomi on Friday before a potential final bout the following day.
The Commonwealth Games will then wrap up with its closing ceremony at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro on Sunday.
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