Trinidad and Tobago boxer Anthony Joseph was disqualified from the Commonwealth Games after he failed to show up on time for his scheduled fight, resulting in a bizarre walkover victory for his opponent.
Missed bout in men's 60kg
Joseph was due to face Namibia's Tryagain Morning Ndevelo in the round of 32 of the men's 60kg event. However, the bout never took place as Joseph inexplicably did not arrive in time. Ndevelo completed his ring walk and waited in the ring, but Joseph was nowhere to be seen.
The bell rang to signal the start of the opening round, but only one boxer was present. Shortly afterward, the contest was officially ended, and Ndevelo removed his gloves. The referee had just one fighter by his side.
Joseph escorted out
The camera later showed Joseph standing near a corner, before he was escorted out of the arena. He buried his face in his gloves, devastated by the turn of events.
TNT Sports reporter Lutalo Muhammad described the scene: "A little bit of a bizarre situation. Tryagain has clearly come into the ring ready to fight and, what’s really interesting is the Trinidadian. We’ve seen him pop his head around the corner, but he was escorted back out of the arena. No idea what’s gone on backstage, but a bizarre circumstance indeed."
He added: "You can see him being escorted back with his head in his hands, so perhaps he missed his call. He might have been a bit late, but he seemed ready. He seemed absolutely distraught to be escorted out backstage. Certainly one of the more bizarre things I’ve seen at a boxing tournament."
Timing error by camp
TNT Sports commentator Richie Woodhall explained: "There’s a time limit for the contest to actually start. He’s gone over that time limit, that’s why you heard the bell. He’s just too late, and so they move on. There’s a time schedule for each contest and he’s out. That’s the way it is. It’s terrible for him. His camp have got the timings wrong, he was given the time schedule, and he’s failed to make it."
This marked Joseph's second disappointment at the Commonwealth Games, having lost in the opening round four years ago via an agonising split decision.
