BANJA LUKA, Nov 4: Anton Josipovic, controversial winner of the light-heavyweight gold medal at the 1984 Olympics, is in a serious condition after being shot in the town of Banja Luka, north-western Bosnia.

Josipovic was shot twice in a bar in the early morning. He has liver and arm wounds but his condition is not life-threatening, hospital sources said today.

Josipovic won the gold for Yugoslavia in Los Angeles after benefiting from one of the most controversial decisions in the history of Olympic boxing which resulted in the disqualification of American Evander Holyfield.

Holyfield, three times world heavyweight champion as a professional, was disqualified by Yugoslav referee Gligorije Novici during his semifinal against New Zealander Kevin Barry for throwing a punch after being ordered to stop.

Barry, who was counted out by the referee after being floored by Holyfield, was stopped from fighting Josipovic in the final because amateur regulations prevented the victim of a knock-out fighting for 28 days.

At the medal ceremony, Josipovic, a 22-year-old literature student, reached down and pulled bronze medallist Holyfield on to the gold medal platform as fans booed the Yugoslav national anthem.

Josipovic later became a sports journalist and covered Holyfield's career.Josipovic, who has lived and worked in the Croatian town of Pula for a number of years, was in Banja Luka, in Serb territory, as a guest at an international boxing meeting. Local sources said he had met friends he had not seen since the break-up of former Yugoslavia in 1992.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.