Irish boxing suffered yet another shocking Olympics disappointment as Michael Conlan was beaten in his bantamweight quarter-final on Tuesday.
Coming into the Games this summer, Ireland’s boxers were seen as the country’s best chance to secure some medals. And although Paul and Gary O’Donovan took silver in the rowing alongside Annalise Murphy’s sailing silver, it has been something of a disaster for Ireland in the boxing as defending Olympic champion Katie Taylor and two-time Olympic bronze-medallist Paddy Barnes were both eliminated in their first fights.
Conlan – a bronze medallist in London four years ago and the 2015 AIBA world boxing champion –
remained the last hope for the Irish boxers, and he reacted furiously as the referee lifted the arm of his opponent Vladimir Nikitin to indicate a points victory for the Russian, removing his shirt and tossing it aside.
What a photo from @sportsfile. Sums it up pic.twitter.com/DUwg7C4pSM
— Paul Fitzpatrick (@moefitzpatrick) August 16, 2016
The judges’ unanimous decision was – at best – controversial and comes less than a month after it was alleged that some fights in this summer’s Olympics could be fixed, with judges deciding who will win before certain fights.
Speaking to Irish national broadcaster RTÉ after the fight, Conlan tore into the powers-that-be within amateur boxing, calling them out as “cheating bastards”.
“AIBA [the International Boxing Association] are cheats. Fucking cheats. As simple as that. That’s me, I’ll never box for AIBA again. They’re fucking cheats,” Conlan said in a furious live interview immediately after the fight. “They’re paying everybody. Amateur boxing stinks from the core right to the top.
“I was here to win Olympic gold. My dream’s been shattered now. But you know what? I’ve a big career ahead of me.”
“And these ones? They’re known for being cheats, and they’ll always be cheats. Amateur boxing stinks, from the core right to the top.”
“It’s like Katie [Taylor] yesterday, No way she lost that fight. It was a close fight, but she didn’t lose.
“I thought I boxed the ears off him in the first round, but they scored it against me. So I had to fight his fight, which I did, outfought him. It’s a shambles to be honest.
“I’m gutted, from the bottom of my heart. I wanted to go back with a gold medal to Ireland. Now I feel I’m going back a loser. I’m not a loser, I’m a winner. Today just showed how corrupt this organisation is.”
Incredible post-fight interview from Michael Conlan… #Olympics #boxing pic.twitter.com/MYcPxjxN0d
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) August 16, 2016
Conlan is unable to appeal the judges’ decision after the AIBA scrapped their appeals process ahead of the Olympics.
This year for the Olympics, AIBA outlawed appeals. Think on that for a second.
— Kevin Byrne (@KevByrneBox) August 16, 2016
Needless to say, boxing fans were furious.
Conlan’s own brother led the charge against the AIBA.
Fucking stinking!!! Devastated beyond belief,, cheating cunts paid for medals before the competition even started,, ruining dreams #Scum
— Jamie Conlan (@JamieConlan11) August 16, 2016
While Ireland’s state broadcaster piled in with some very strong words.
In a change to some listings Joanne Cantwell hosts Crimecall now on #RTE2 as the team analyse how @mickconlan11 was just robbed at #Rio2016
— RTÉ2 (@RTE2) August 16, 2016
And the rest of those watching at home were just as amazed.
"Amateur boxing stinks from the core right to the top." – Feel so enraged on Michael Conlan's behalf. What a shambles.
— ⭐ amy o'connor ⭐ (@amyohconnor) August 16, 2016
That is the best I've ever seen @mickconlan11 box and that is the worst decision I've ever seen! Complete disgrace!!!
— Tommy McCarthy (@Tommymac90) August 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/SkyGlennMcCrory/status/765561314039230464
https://twitter.com/MallowNews/status/765559759386836992
https://twitter.com/KevinMcAnena/status/765567025292910593
@mickconlan11 could have killed that russian and still not got the decision. What a joke AIBA is
— Mari Barnes (@MissBurnsx) August 16, 2016
The Olympics holds a mirror up in many ways to how sport is seen by the world. That Conlan decision shows how sick sport is at elite level.
— Michael Foley📚🖊 (@MickFoley76) August 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/KevBeirne/status/765570426508574720
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