A stunned Bianca Elmir is considering her future as an amateur boxer after suffering a shock defeat in the world championship qualifiers in Canberra on Sunday.
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But the tenacious competitor admitted it would be hard to walk away from her Olympic Games goal just two years out from her dream of competing at Rio de Janeiro.
Victorian barrister Simone Bailey beat Elmir on a split points decision 2-1 in the 57 kilogram division at the AIS in the women's world championship selection trials.
Elmir was desperate to compete at the world championships in South Korea from November 13-25.
The 33-year-old could not hide her frustration after the bout, thinking she had done enough to win and book her ticket to the world titles.
"I'm in shock really. It's hard to judge your own performance because you're in there, but I honestly don't think I lost the fight," Elmir said.
"It was a bit messy and scrappy. But it's taken away my spot in South Korea. I've envisaged myself with my hand up at the world titles.
"But there's nothing I can do. It's such a subjective sport. It's based on someone's opinion and mood on the day. It makes it really hard to swallow sometimes when you don't get the decision."
Elmir was the only Canberra boxer left in the competition after winning her first two fights.
She threw everything she had at Bailey, only to be denied by the judges.
Making it on to the world championship team was part of Elmir's bid for retribution after her 12-month suspension for testing positive to a banned substance to prevent swelling in her ankles.
The ban forced her to miss the 2012 Olympics in London.
"I don't know what the plan is now. Keep training, I guess," Elmir said.
"It breaks you up when you bring everything you've got and then it gets left to a decision like that.
"You've got to reset yourself. But how many shots can you give it when you get bad decisions like that?
"You can't let one thing do your head in. But there are walls and politics [in amateur boxing]. I can't let this get to me.
"I guess I'm a bit stuck. The Olympics are a big deal and you're always chasing that carrot."
