By Luke Furman

Heavyweight Roberto Cammarelle said he was disgusted with amateur boxing after Sunday's defeat to Britain's Anthony Joshua in the gold medal final at the London Olympics. He failed to defend the super heavyweight title he won in Beijing four years ago. Cammarelle won two of the three rounds but the contest finished level on points but the host-country's fighter was awarded victory after a recount of the punches landed.

Cammarelle's coach unsuccessfully protested the result to governing body AIBA and the Italian media said the 32-year-old policeman was "robbed".

"It's not Joshua's fault, but the Olympics were held in London and here evidently somebody likes to win in this manner," Cammarelle said. "This type of boxing no longer represents me and I don't like it".

He added that he would not try to win his Olympic title back at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Italy boxing coach Francesco Damiani had even harsher words, saying that "an infernal machine was put into operation" to deny Cammarelle gold.

Luke Furman covers boxing for bokser.org