India’s veteran boxing coach says he accepts the decision by amateur boxing’s governing body to overturn his welterweight’s apparent victory in Friday’s competition. Gurbankhsh Singh Sandhu was disappointed, but he says “a rule is a rule.”

AIBA reversed the result of Krishan Vikas’ 13-11 victory over U.S. welterweight Errol Spence, sending Spence into the quarterfinals. AIBA reviewed the bout after the American team appealed, ruling Vikas had committed nine holding fouls in the third round alone that went unpunished.

India’s boxing federation asked AIBA about appealing the appeal, but was told that’s not possible.
Sandhu says he’s concentrating on the rest of his strong team.

World amateur bronze medallist Krishan originally won his welterweight bout against Errol Spence 13-11 but, after reviewing video footage, AIBA declared the American the winner.

The governing body said its competition jury found Spence should have been awarded four additional points for fouls committed by the Indian, handing the US men a lifeline after the original result appeared to condemn them to their worst result at an Olympic Games.

As both losing semi-finalists get a bronze in boxing, Spence can guarantee a place on the podium by beating Andrey Zamkovoy of Russia in Tuesday’s quarter-final, a result that would at least equal the solitary bronze won four years ago in Beijing.