Harsh words from the boxer.
Irish boxer Michael Conlan suffered a unanimous points defeat against Russian opponent Vladimir Nikitin, losing out on a bronze medal in the process, in the quarter-final of the men’s bantamweight 56kg.
Conlan was interviewed by RTE after the fight where he said he would never fight IABA again. He said:
“They are cheating b**tards and I don’t give a f**k cursing on TV…Amateur boxing stinks from the core to the top…I thought I boxed the head off him in the first round…but when I heard I was down I had to go to his fight…They are all corrupt…”
https://twitter.com/Healycycles/status/765563615051218944
Here’s another version of the interview:
Michael Conlan irate after controversial loss. Watch here: https://t.co/Sg2KTSRTDS https://t.co/4fXhWtjbsK
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 16, 2016
What a photo from @sportsfile. Sums it up pic.twitter.com/DUwg7C4pSM
— Paul Fitzpatrick (@moefitzpatrick) August 16, 2016
Twitter users have reacted in both shock and anger at the result.
This is fucking ridiculous.Michael Conlon lost.He got absolutely robbed.He boxed the head of his opponent.Fuck the judges #Rio2016 #Boxing
— Seán O'Sullivan (@sean_osull00) August 16, 2016
The boxing @Olympics judges are corrupt as bedamned. Michael Conlon was robbed. 😡
— Liz (10) (^_^) Ⓥ (@Lionesskeeper) August 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/DeirdreASmith/status/765566468754989060
Another shocking decision goes to Russia. Blatant bribery and doping. The Olympics hangs in a cloud of shame. #Rio2016 #boxing #conlon
— Stephen the Poet (@StephenthePoet) August 16, 2016
Boxer Bernard Dunner agreed with Conlan:
https://twitter.com/Bernard_Dunne/status/765561655166177285
Watch his take on it here:
'Amateur boxing stinks' – The RTÉ panel discusses Michael Conlan's controversial defeat https://t.co/miT6HjqUYn
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 16, 2016
