Michael Conlan will refuse to pay a fine to the world amateur boxing association (AIBA) after accusing the organisation of cheating him out of an Olympic medal.
The AIBA issued the maximum fine under its rules, 10,000 Swiss Francs (€9,335), for Conlan’s outburst but the Belfast boxer who has since turned professional has said that he won’t pay the money. Conlan was the AIBA world champion until he switched to the professional ranks after the Olympics.
The bantamweight, who won Olympic bronze in 2012, was furious after judges awarded the quarter final to the Russian fighter Vladimir Nikitin despite the Irishman appearing to win the bout. Irish officials, boxers and commentators also expressed scepticism at the decision.
In an expletive-filled interview immediately after the fight, Conlan said that he would never box under the organisation again.
“They’re cheating bastards,” he said. “They’ve always been cheats. Amateur boxing stinks from the core right to the top.”
Advertisement
On its Facebook page the Irish Amateur Boxing Association said that the result was a “shameful decision”, adding that Conlan won all three rounds and was the superior boxer throughout.
Zaur Antia, Ireland’s head coach, said that the judges only gave the second round to Conlan so that they could refute accusations of corruption which have dogged boxing at the Rio games. Nikitin was unable to face his next opponent and pulled out of the Olympics.
Ching-Kuo Wu, president of the international boxing, vowed to punish Conlan soon after the fight and accused him of humiliating the sport’s judges.