MICHAEL CONLAN HAS finally gotten his wish, and so too has Vladimir Nikitin.
The Irish and Russian former Olympians will square off as professionals in Conlan’s hometown of Belfast this August, almost three years since their quarter-final bout at Rio 2016 which saw Nikitin’s arm raised in scandalous circumstances.
The long-awaited bout — as much a shot at vindication for Nikitin as it is a revenge chance for Conlan — will take place outdoors at Belfast’s Falls Park as part of Féile an Phobail on 3 August.
Conlan-Nikitin and an undercard featuring several other as-of-yet unnamed Irish fighters will be broadcast live on the ESPN+ platform in the States, with Irish and UK TV details to follow.
It’s happening. The Payback. August 3rd, 2019. Falls Park, Belfast. I’ve wanted this fight from that day, August 16th 2016. REVENGE will be sweet!! #TheConlanRevolution #ConlanVNikitin pic.twitter.com/lcB4Tyqyi9
— Michael Conlan (@mickconlan11) May 14, 2019
Conlan, then the reigning amateur world champion at bantamweight, appeared to clearly beat the Russian in their Rio quarter-final only to be condemned to defeat by the judges, on whom he then turned.
The Falls Road native raised his middle fingers towards each of them before giving a now-iconic, expletive-laden interview to RTÉ in which he lamented his dream being taken from him and labelled amateur boxing’s governing body, AIBA, “cheats”.
The bout, and the widespread outrage with which it was met, made news headlines around the world.
Following Conlan’s defeat and a number of other highly contentious decisions at the Games, all 36 judges and referees who officiated in Rio were stood down by AIBA. The governing body remains plagued by Rio-related scandal to this day, with further suspicion arising around certain 2016 Olympic results as recently as March.
“It was probably the worst day of my amateur boxing career,” Conlan told a press conference in Belfast this afternoon of his Rio elimination at the hands of Nikitin. “And it’s a wrong that needs to be put right this time.
“It’s probably going to be the first fight that I’ve actually been able to get up for because it’s the only fight I’ve wanted since then.
“I probably fought in the Falls Park as a kid,” he added with a laugh. “Now, I’m getting paid to fight in the Falls Park against the biggest rival of my career.
“This is literally home turf for me and it is absolutely huge. I am West Belfast and Falls Road born and bred so this means everything to me.
“Vladimir Nikitin and I have unfinished business… I can’t wait to set the record straight.
“I want to give the people of Belfast and Ireland a night to remember forever on 3 August. This is going to be epic.”
Conlan signed with Bob Arum’s Top Rank months after his Olympic exit and has since amassed a record of 11-0 with six stoppages as well as a world ranking with the WBO. He has topped bills at Madison Square Garden’s Theater venue on each of the last three Saint Patrick’s weekends, also notably stepping through the ropes in Las Vegas, at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, and at home in Belfast for the first time last year.
Last April, The42 reported that Nikitin had joined Conlan in the Top Rank stable, with Bob Arum telling this publication: “I met the youngster: we’re going to give him a couple of fights here in the United States, and then we’re going to make a huge match with him and Mick. It will be a chance for Mick to exact revenge for the terrible decision at the Rio Olympics.”
Nikitin has fought only three times as professional and hasn’t torn any trees up thus far but, like Conlan (2012), he is an Olympic bronze medalist; the Russian was forced to withdraw from his Olympic semi-final due to injuries sustained in his last-eight clash with the Belfast man.
“When I turned professional last year, the man I wanted to fight most was Michael Conlan,” he said. “Michael has said a lot of things since the Olympics about how he was robbed of a medal.
Well, I am coming to his hometown during their biggest festival to show everyone my Olympic victory was not a fluke. This is going to be repeat, not revenge.
“Conlan will regret pushing for this fight. I beat him twice in the amateurs and will do the same as a pro. It will feel even sweeter to beat him in his hometown. Belfast here I come!”
Added promoter Bob Arum at today’s press conference:
Well, I think as everybody observed [in 2016], while Nikitin had the gloves on, it was really Michael against Vladimir Putin. Clear as that. Putin was directing which Eastern Bloc fighters would win medals.
“Nikitin, we signed to a contract after we signed Michael, with the idea that one day we would match them against each other in a fair-and-square contest with no political implications.
“The best man will win.”
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Great game City keeper had a blinder!!! 1300 for an U19 game on a Wednesday night and there were 400 at Richmond Park for Pats v City on Monday…laughable
Be interesting to see what the attendance would have been if the Liverpool Man U game was on tonight instead of Monday.
True but even tonight City v Barcelona on tonight too
Very few irish ppl support Man City compared to Utd and Lpool. Just goes to show that irish ppl are event junkies. We love special occasions like these or going over to england to see a game, but when it comes to the average humdrum LOI fixture ppl are less enthusiastic.
City Barcelona is no comparison to Liverpool United for the Irish football fan
Are you saying there are more Irish fans supporting Man City and Barca than Man Utd and Liverpool??
U19 and U17 leagues were a fantastic idea well done cork
Great support. Well done Cork.
Is there a group stage or is it just a continous 2 leg knockout?? Btw fair play to cork
They play Roma in a 2 leg play-off and the winner goes to the group stage
Ah sound. Hope they get through
The winners of the next leg play the runners up of the Champions league groups, then the winners of that game play the winners of the champions league groups.
Well done Cork.
No Kenny Browne in sight Darren you’d have been delighted
Yes….. You have a lot of decent footballers there. No room for chubby checkers anywhere! Posh boy….you weren’t the lad on about goal difference between Dundalk and Cork defences were you yesterday? Less said about the MASSIVE +3 goals between teams the better.
@Darren Sheils: No it wasn’t me anyway haha
Great stuff from City.I’ll have to book the holiday to Rome.
That’s a tight net. Well done CCFC
Great support and an unbelievable result! Fair play Cork, they’ll continue to be a top side with this young talent coming through!