Andre Lambe and Tyler Christopher “left it all in the ring” during their defeats at the Central American and Caribbean Games qualifiers in Tijuana, Mexico, on Tuesday.

Both Bermudian southpaws lost in the quarter-finals of the competition, Lambe losing via a second-round stoppage while Christopher was on the receiving end of a controversial split decision.

Lambe and Christopher, both of Forty Rego’s Gym, are hoping to reach the CAC Games in Barranquilla, Colombia, this summer — a qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

“It hurts to lose, especially with everyone telling me I won, both coaches and fighters,” lamented Christopher, who fought a Panamanian.

“Apparently that happens to the islanders; they don’t usually get fair decisions when in Spanish-speaking countries.”

Lambe fought through sickness against his Guatemalan opponent after falling ill the night before his contest.

“It made it hard for me to breath, but I still went out and gave it my all,” Lambe said.

“I definitely won the first round and was doing well at the beginning of the second.

“We had the right game plan, for sure. I just wasn’t in the condition to continue to execute it due to my circumstances.”

The Bermuda Boxing Federation posted on Facebook yesterday: “Team Bermuda performed impressively last night! Unfortunately, Andre Lambe saw a referee stoppage in the second round and Tyler Christopher, giving a sound technical display, lost in a split decision.

“Still awaiting the final word on CAC qualification. However, Bermuda should be proud of the promising future in boxing we have to look forward to! They left it all in the ring, now they come home and get back to work!”

Lambe and Christopher are hoping to emulate Olympians Clarence Hill, Roy Johnson, Robert Burgess and Quinn Paynter by reaching Tokyo.

Just days before the competition it was doubtful whether they would make the trip to Tijuana after the International Olympic Committee suspended all funding for the crisis-hit International Boxing Association.

It meant the Bermuda Olympic Association had no choice but to pull funding from the Bermuda Boxing Federation, who were assisted in covering the costs of the team’s travel by Teachers Rugby Football Club, The Doghouse and Arnold’s Market.

For more information about the BBF youth programmes, e-mail bermudaboxingfed@gmail.com.