Paddy Kenny competed in the men’s bantamweight boxing at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games, winning his opening bout before losing a deeply controversial split decision to American Jerry Armstrong in his second contest – a verdict that prompted a near-riot among spectators at the Palazzo della Sport and a formal written protest to the AIBA.

Kenny won his first bout against Switzerland’s Emile Anner with a unanimous decision, his two-handed attacks from all angles keeping the Swiss on constant retreat. Against Armstrong, Kenny led after the first round and continued to press in the second and third rounds with fast, solid punching, and was on top in the third when he launched a fierce assault that continued to the final bell.

Two of the five judges awarded the bout to Kenny and a third scored it even, with the casting vote going to Armstrong. Spectators had to be restrained by stewards and police from rushing the ring.

Col Jim Devine of the IABA Referees and Judges Committee, who had scored each round in Kenny’s favour, was among those who submitted a formal written protest to the AIBA calling for reform of the judging standards.