Steven Donnelly and Brendan Irvine became the latest Irish boxers to crash out of the Rio Olympics on Saturday.

Donnelly dropped a split decision in his welterweight bout against Moroccan world number one Mohammed Rabii with at least a bronze medal at stake.

Meanwhile flyweight Irvine was well beaten by Uzbekistan’s Shakhobidin Zoirov, whose extra power told as he skated to a unanimous victory over the three rounds.

Donnelly, who had won two previous bouts to get to the brink of an Olympic medal, said he was disappointed but proud of his efforts.

Donnelly said: “It was a great effort from me against the world champion, I believed in myself and I gave it my all.

“I’m proud of my efforts here because he’s the world number one and I thought I could win, but I’m disappointed not to win a medal.”

The two defeats leave Michael Conlan and Katie Taylor, who are yet to start their respective competitions, as the last two Irish boxers standing.

World champion Conlan starts on Sunday against Aram Avagyan of Armenia at bantamweight, while defending champion Taylor begins her campaign next week.