If you’ve been watching the boxing at this summer’s Olympic games, you may have noticed a few questionable results.
Irish boxer and pre-Olympics favourite Michael Conlan called out amateur boxing’s world governing body, the AIBA, after he lost his bantamweight quarter-final on a confusing unanimous decision.
The 2015 World Champion labelled AIBA “fucking cheats” and claimed that amateur boxing “stinks from the core right to the top” in a furiously foul-mouthed post-fight interview on Tuesday afternoon.
In the wake of his tirade, AIBA announced that some judges would be sent home from the Olympics after their officiating was deemed to be “not at the level expected”, although all the controversial decisions they made would still stand.
What a photo from @sportsfile. Sums it up pic.twitter.com/DUwg7C4pSM
— Paul Fitzpatrick (@moefitzpatrick) August 16, 2016
Meanwhile Conlan’s supposed conqueror, Vladimir Nikitin, announced he will not be taking his place in the semi-finals due to the injuries he sustained in his fight with the Belfast man.
It all adds up to boxing fans – both casual and hardcore – losing faith in the sport’s Olympic presence, as many feel that the results have already been decided long before the fighters enter the ring.
But in tragedy, there is comedy and Irish sketch group Foil, Arms and Hog have perfectly captured the feeling of fans everywhere in this brilliant skit lampooning the predictability of certain fights.
And in fairness to Conlan, even at one of the lowest points in his boxing career, he can still see the funny side.
😂😂😂😂😂😂https://t.co/FMs0HhKSCT
— Michael Conlan (@mickconlan11) August 18, 2016
Well played.
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