Gallagher, who claimed gold in Birmingham four years ago but has since moved up a weight, was shocked by Namibia’s Tryagain Morning Ndevelo in the men’s lightweight, losing by split decision.
Ndevelo made a fast start and won the first round and he then edged a much more competitive second.
Gallagher came storming out in the third, connecting with a number of big punches, but it wasn’t enough to force the stoppage he needed as he lost 3-2.
“It’s a tough one to take. I thought I might have been up after the first, was down 3-2, that was alright and then down after the second and obviously it was an uphill battle into the third,” he told BBC Sport NI.
“I knew I had to force the count or the stoppage, I caught him lovely a couple of times with the right and he buckled. I thought the referee broke it a couple of times when he could have let it resume.
“I thought a couple of times the referee was harsh but it wasn’t meant to be and I’m disappointed.”
The Tyrone native questioned the various scorecards of the judges, with those in his favour saying he won 30-26 and 30-27, while those three against him all said that Ndevelo won the fight 29-28.
“I looked at my scores after the fight and I got on one judge’s scorecard 30-26, that’s quite a convincing winner in someone’s eyes and for a couple of other judges to go against me, it doesn’t make sense,” he added.
“The judging and officiating has been a bit questionable in this competition. I’m not someone to come out and question judges or referees, that’s not my style I don’t get involved in that, but when it happens to you it’s hard to ignore it.
“I think it [judging] has been all over the place to be honest, it needs addressed in some shape or form.”
