Sport

Michael Conlan admits concern over future of Olympic boxing

Michael Conlan famously flashed the middle finger to ringside judges following his controversial defeat to Vladimir Nikitin at the 2016 Olympic Games. Picture by PA
Michael Conlan famously flashed the middle finger to ringside judges following his controversial defeat to Vladimir Nikitin at the 2016 Olympic Games. Picture by PA Michael Conlan famously flashed the middle finger to ringside judges following his controversial defeat to Vladimir Nikitin at the 2016 Olympic Games. Picture by PA

BELFAST boxing star Michael Conlan has spoken of his concern for the future of amateur boxing if the sport is expelled from the 2020 Olympics.

The 2015 World amateur champion, now a 9-0 pro, was involved in one of Olympic boxing’s biggest-ever controversies at the 2016 Rio Games.

Conlan was among the leading contenders to win bantamweight gold but found himself the victim of a hugely controversial points defeat to Russian Vladimir Nikitin in the quarter-finals.

Clearly enraged, Conlan famously gave a middle finger salute to AIBA judges officiating before turning pro with American powerhouse promoters Top Rank months after returning home from Rio.

The 26-year-old is on a collision course Nikitin, with a potential bout mooted for next year, but will be back in action at Manchester Arena on December 22 when Carl Frampton challenges Josh Warrington for the IBF featherweight belt.

In recent months a row has broken out over the governance of the amateur sport, putting its Olympic future under threat, and fears have increased since Gafur Rakhimov was elected AIBA president last weekend.

“Boxing is en route to being kicked out of the Olympics which is very, very unfortunate and something I would not like to see,” said Conlan.

“Olympic boxing is the main reason so many boxers stay amateur. The only reason I stayed amateur for so long is because I wanted to be an Olympic champion.

“If boxing gets kicked out it will be really unfortunate and you will see a lot of young amateurs turn professional.

“The only people I am sorry for is the boxers who are going to miss out on a chance to become an Olympic champion and experience that. I feel bad for them because they have the Olympic dream and want to be successful.

“If they can’t get a chance of going to the Olympics there is no point in staying amateur in my opinion.”

Boxing has taken place at every Olympics since 1904, apart from Stockholm eight years later because boxing was banned in Sweden.

Clinging on to the hope that a resolution will be reached, Conlan added: “I know it doesn’t look like there will be Olympic boxing, but for some reason I think it will stay.”

Tickets are available for the Carl Frampton-Josh Warrington fight, featuring Michael Conlan on the undercard, via Manchester-Arena.com