A controversial defeat for Sydney middleweight Daniel Lewis has compounded another disappointing day for Australia at the World Boxing Championships in Qatar.
The highly rated Lewis lost on points to Ireland's Michael O'Reilly in a high-quality contest, but Lewis can feel more than hard done with the unanimous points decision.
Both boxers landed big shots in an even opening round but the surprising decision of the referee to give Lewis a standing count of eight swung the contest in the Irishman's favour on the judges' cards.
Both boxers appeared surprised at the referee's call with Lewis looking in little distress at the time, but he came racing out for the second round in determined fashion and dominated from the opening bell.
O'Reilly was struggling to cope with Lewis' powerful right hand but was given a huge reprieve late in the round when under severe pressure the referee stepped in once again, this time moving both fighters to neutral corners so he could remove a camera lens cap that had fallen into the ring.
The sound of the bell couldn't come quick enough for the Irishman but astonishingly the ringside judges gave the round to O'Reilly.
The decision was described by former Olympic bronze medallist David Price on commentary as staggering and left Lewis with a mountain to climb in the final round.
It proved to be an insurmountable one for the 21-year-old Sydney fighter who went on an all-out attack but left himself open to the counter attack and walked straight in to a big right hand from the Irishman late that sealed his fate.
Adelaide welterweight David Biddle also crashed out to world No.2 Wuttichai Masuk from Thailand with NSW flyweight Joshua English losing to Ukrainian light-flyweight Dmytro Zamotaev.
It leaves Aaron Spagnolo as the only one of the nine-strong Australian team remaining in the tournament.
The Melbourne light-heavyweight takes on Croatia's Sep Hrvoje for a place in the quarter-finals on Friday.
The disappointing showing in Qatar leaves Australia with a huge battle to take a team to the Rio Olympic Games next year with spots only secured with a top-three finish in Doha.
Qualification is no longer guaranteed through Oceania with the path to the Games now going through a hugely competitive Asian region.
