A controversial decision ended Shpëtim Bajok's appearance at the Balkan Boxing Championship being held in Albena, Bulgaria.
On Saturday, Bajoku faced Ukrainian Yaroslav Mykhalushko in the semi-finals of the 67-kilogram category. The Ukrainian landed more punches in the first round and four of the five judges scored in his favor.
In the second round, Bajoku started furiously. The boxers exchanged many blows, but Bajoku was showing more. 1:49 seconds before the end, the referee in the ring stopped the fight so that Mykhalushko could be given medical attention. The Ukrainian had an injured arcade and the blood was not stopping. With the doctor's decision, the referee stopped the fight. The evaluation of the judges until that moment was taken as a basis and thus the victory went to the Ukrainians.
"I'm desperate, of course. But that's what the judges decided, I had nothing to do. I was in a good moment, I was sobering up. But the opponent damaged the arcade and the referees decided to stop the fight and settle with the points that were up until then. I believe that I was on the right path", Bajoku said to KOĖN.
He brought a moment of pride from Albena, with the victory over Serbian Semiz Aliçic in the first match. But on Saturday he was out of luck. The decision to include Ukrainian boxers in the Balkans is also debatable.
also
Bajoku stops in the semi-finals
By reaching the semi-finals, Bajoku secured the bronze medal.
Patriot Behrami also boxed on Saturday. In the first duel in the Balkan, Behrami lost to the Romanian boxer, Dorulet Tiu. Kosovo's coaches were left disappointed after the judges awarded the winner. The match was valid for the category up to 71 kg.
