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Boxing’s Olympic place should be reconsidered claims Conlan

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Michael Conlan feels that the future of boxing at the Olympic Games should be seriously reconsidered.

The Belfast bantamweight was ridiculously defeated in his quarter final on Tuesday by Russian Vladimir Nikitin and afterwards, along with the majority of onlookers, accused the International Boxing Association [AIBA] of widespread corruption.

While he was clearly upset and emotional in the immediate aftermath of his loss, Conlan still feels the same now.

Speaking on Newstalk 106FM’s Off The Ball, Conlan explained that “I believe the whole system of amateur boxing at the minute, Olympic boxing especially, is stinking.”

“I think the IOC [International Olympic Committee] need to have a look at boxing in the Olympics and wonder should it even be in Tokyo.”

“If I was a young boxer watching the Olympics, I don’t think I would want to be there.”

Boxing is, by far, Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport, bringing home 16 out of 31 medalss, and Conlan wishes that there could be a better solution, suggesting that his reaction to the robbery can be an instrument of change.

The 24 year old noted that “my reaction after the fight, I hope it’s opens the eyes of the World to the boxing system and the scoring system.”

“I hope it doesn’t happen again.”

“I hope, for other athletes in the future, that this stuff doesn’t happen.”

“I hope I can change people’s opinions and open the eyes to corruption,”

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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