Controversial Judging in Commonwealth Games Final Leaves Shittu Disappointed

New Delhi, India Aug 2, 2026 ALN: The pundits made their feelings known.

"Shocking. Terrible. Totally robbed," said former champion Richie Woodhall.

England's Dimeji Shittu had to settle for silver at the Commonwealth Games on Saturday after a controversial defeat by India's Ankush Panghal. The match, which was highly anticipated, culminated in a result that has sparked widespread debate about the fairness and consistency of officiating in , particularly in high-stakes competitions.

Shittu, 24, was docked a point in both the second and third rounds, but even without those deductions, he would not have won due to what many observers deemed questionable decision-making by the judges. The controversy surrounding the match has reignited one of 's oldest debates: the fairness of officiating. Could judging supported by artificial intelligence (AI) help solve this problem?

What happened to Shittu?

Shittu was well-placed in his final after winning the first round on all five of the judges' scorecards. His performance was notable enough that one punch resulted in Ankush receiving a standing count, a significant moment that seemed to set the tone for the match. However, the contest took a turn in the second round. Despite Shittu appearing to land the majority of the blows, three of the judges awarded the round to Ankush, a decision that many found perplexing.

This meant that when a point was harshly deducted for dipping his head low, Shittu found himself trailing overall, a situation that would prove to be pivotal in the outcome of the match. The situation worsened in the third round when Shittu was penalized for the same offense again, despite having hurt Ankush during the round. This effectively decided the contest, leaving Shittu at a disadvantage that he could not overcome.

Richie Woodhall, commenting on the second penalty, expressed his disbelief: "Do me a favor, referee." His sentiments were echoed by TNT commentator Dave Farrar, who stated, "That is dreadful, absolutely dreadful." The final round saw an astonishing four of the judges awarding it to Ankush, which meant that the point deductions were irrelevant to the final decision. Shittu would have lost even without the penalties, raising further questions about the judges' scoring criteria.

Woodhall's frustration was palpable as he questioned, "How did [Ankush] win that last round on the scores 4-1? Absolutely terrible. Shocking. That is not sour grapes." This level of discontent among commentators and former champions highlights the ongoing concerns regarding the integrity and transparency of officiating in .

What did Shittu say?

In the aftermath of the match, Shittu exhibited commendable smanship, refusing to be drawn into the debate about the officiating. Although he appeared distraught as the result was confirmed, he stated, "Whatever the referee says goes." This acknowledgment of the authority of the referee reflects a deep understanding of the rules and the nature of amateur .

Shittu continued, "A lot of people might say this about the referee, the judging, but at the end of the day I can only blame myself. Those are the rules. We live and we learn. At the end of the day, it's a foul in amateur . It cost me the fight." His perspective emphasizes the importance of personal accountability in s, even in the face of perceived injustice.

He added, "If people think I should have got the decision, fair play, I understand. But if I'm sitting here blaming judges, blaming refs, I'm not going to get better." This mature response may resonate with many athletes who face similar challenges in their careers, where the outcome is often influenced by factors beyond their control.

What about AI?

Delicious Orie, England's superheavyweight champion from the 2022 Commonwealth Games, also believed the result was unfair. He stated, "The referee has stripped the medal from Dimeji," highlighting the perceived injustice of the situation. Orie suggested introducing AI into judging as a potential solution to improve the fairness of scoring in . This idea has gained traction in recent years, with technology being utilized to judge high-profile bouts, such as Tyson Fury's contest with Oleksandr Usyk.

Under the leadership of president and former unified world champion Gennadiy Golovkin, the World Association, which oversees amateur globally, has begun exploring the implementation of AI to enhance transparency and integrity in judging. While no immediate changes are on the horizon, the desire to investigate AI's potential role in improving judging standards is evident.

Traditionalists in the may argue that subjectivity is an inherent and valuable part of . The beauty of the often lies in its nuanced interpretations of technique, power, and strategy, which can be difficult to quantify. Technology has been utilized in other s, but more often for factual situations—such as determining whether a player was offside in football, whether a shot landed out in tennis, or whether there was an edge of a cricket bat in cricket. The challenge with lies in the subjective nature of scoring, where the power and effectiveness of punches can vary greatly in the eyes of different judges.

Critical questions arise regarding the ability of AI to determine the power of a punch or the effectiveness of a fighter's strategy. Are all punches equal? How do we account for defensive maneuvers or the impact of a fighter's overall performance? These are complex issues that need thorough consideration before any implementation of AI in judging can be realized.

Orie expressed his openness to the idea, stating, "I wouldn't necessarily be against it. Then it becomes an objective scoring system. If I knew there was a specific set of scoring, then yeah, bring AI. I would follow that rule book rather than someone's opinion." This perspective suggests that many athletes may welcome a system that reduces human error and bias in judging decisions, potentially leading to fairer outcomes.

As the debate continues, the future of officiating in may hinge on the integration of technology to ensure fairness and accuracy. The controversy surrounding Shittu's match has highlighted the urgent need for reform in judging practices, as athletes and fans alike seek greater transparency and accountability in the . Whether through AI or other innovations, the goal remains the same: to uphold the integrity of and ensure that the best fighters receive the recognition they deserve.