Silver for Whittaker in Tokyo

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Ben Whittaker secured Team GB’s fourth boxing medal of Tokyo 2020 after defeat in the men’s light heavyweight final in Tokyo.

Whittaker was beaten on a split decision by Cuba’s Arlen Lopez, joining welterweight Pat McCormack with a runners-up spot.

The British boxer lost the first round 10-9 on all five judges' scorecards, while one judge awarded him the second after an improved round.

But that still left him with too much to do and Lopez eased through the third to win gold.

Whittaker, 24, from Darlaston, said: “No boxer wants to receive a silver medal, every boxer wants gold and I am one of those.

"I woke up this morning truly believing this was my time. I had the whole of the West Midlands behind me and Great Britain.

"I feel like a failure, so I didn’t want to celebrate silver at that time and I don’t think I can just yet.

“When I look back in a few years, it will probably be a great achievement but right now I don’t feel like it.

“I feel like the right man won. He was a lot better than I thought, he is a two-time gold medallist for a reason.

“It shows what level he is at and I can remember watching him in 2014 or 2015. I never thought I would get the chance to fight him and I did and it was a pleasure but I am just so upset.

“It is very strange because idols turn to rivals. I would not say I was in awe of him but I respected him. And then I am in the right with him. It was a weird one but he is a fantastic boxer and hopefully one day I get to see him again.”