HISTORY MAKER MICHAEL Conlan has claimed Ireland’s first ever male World Championship gold at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena.
The Belfast bantamweight recorded a 3-0 win (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) over Murodjon Akhmadaliev of Uzbekistan in their 56kg final in Doha tonight.
A shocked silence descended on the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena in the third round, however, when Conlan was put on the canvas by a massive right hook form the Uzbek.
The No 22 and Asian Games silver medallist had forced Conlan to fight on the inside with the Irish captain having to abandon his usual slick, fleet-footed style.
“I’m speechless and a phenomenal atmosphere picked me up off the canvas,” said a relieved but delighted Conlan.
“It made me keep going.”
Conlan boxed courageously, winning all three rounds, including the last, despite the knockdown, and showed heart to rise off the canvas and see out the win with some 20 seconds to go.
“It was probably the best punch I’ve ever been hit with in my life. I’ve never been down in my life. It hit me sweet on the chin, but I have phenomenal fitness so I recovered really quickly and I’m really happy.”
Meanwhile, Michael O’Reilly came out the wrong side of a highly-questionable points decision, losing a third-place middleweight box-off for Olympic qualification.
The Portlaoise man lost a 3-0 decision to African champ Hosam Abdin, leaving O’Reilly shocked in the ring when the 29-28 decision on all cards was announced.
“I’m absolutely gutted myself, I don’t know what went on, it’s just ridiculous. In my mind I was up and won every round easy. I’m still in shock,” said O’Reilly immediately after the bout.
African champion Abdin fought with intelligent pressure in the first round, but landed few shots of significance, but the judges all scored the bout 29-28 in favour of the Egyptian with O’Reilly winning only the last round on the cards.
The judges – from Uzbekistan, Cuba and Mongolia – all had identical cards, while live scoring was not shown at the arena for the first time at the tournament so far.
Joe Ward will be out to claim Ireland’s second gold at the tournament on Thursday night when he meets Cuba’s two-time world champ Julio La Cruz.
Ward already sealed his Olympic qualification by reaching the 81kg final, but the Moate light-heavyweight wants more, according to head coach Billy Walsh.
“The Cuban gave us a boxing exhibition last time…. but we have a better Joe Ward now,” said Walsh.
fantastic news! well done.
☆☆☆
Doesn’t get the recognition he deserves.
media too busy with their Katie Taylor love in to notice anyother boxers
As soon as the others win 5 World Championships, 6 European Championships, 5 EU Championships and an Olympic gold then other boxers will get just as much notice! Fair dues to Michael Conlon by the way..very talented fighter.
Yea because Katie Taylor’s in the news every day.
Because Katie Taylor’s competition has always been of the highest order….said no one ever
you can only compete against the available opposition. Regardless, her achievements are outstanding and far outweigh those of her male counterparts. Why people would question why she gets so much media attention is beyond me.
You answered your own question, she can only compete against what’s put in front of her! That’s exactly why her achievements aren’t comparable to her male counterparts. In no way is that meant to be sexist, it’s just women’s boxing is in its infancy so to speak. There’s no doubting she is unbelievably talented and dedicated and it’s not her fault that the standard of her opposition is so poor. She’s ahead of her time yes, but what Michael Conlan, Paddy Barnes and John Joe Nevin have achieved is on another level altogether i’m sorry.
Great week for Irish sport
Belarusian guy almost had him but he played that amazing, another big talent in Irish boxing
Great achievement by Michael and all involved and hopefully more to come. Well done.
Well done, lad!
He’s the best best amateur boxer Ireland have have ever produced.
well done young man.come on the rest of the irish lads
Go on the Irish!!!
Just watched the Reilly fight. Hard to fathom that an Olympic sport like this is still so corrupt. Shocking decision on the young lad
@Sean Crowley, that fight/result with O Reilly was the most unbelievable I’ve ever seen!!! The Egypian didn’t land a box in the 1st how he was scored what he did well it’s a disgrace! Corruption beyond corruption..!
Not just that. Didn’t show the scoring between rounds in the arena for the first and only time. And, the Egyptian looked as if he knew he was going to win
Yeah did you see him with his finger on his lips, then kneeling onto the ground just before they announced the winner….it looked fake/rehearsed even! Bad night for boxing as O Reilly said himself “ridiculous”
well done
wow a gold in a sport every one plays. international sports star of the so far. well done
Bravo.
Got up off the canvas and turned things around.
Hard earned medal.
Congrats Michael. Delighted for u
fantastic achievement. He’s one of the best boxers I have ever seen.
Heard him interviewed after the euro champs and he was saying his biggest problem was finding sponsorship. He believes he is a certainty for an olympic gold so hopefully an Irish company will be now willing to back him. Well done fella
Well done. I don’t follow boxing that much but there seems to be world championships every 6 months
fuhk Denis o brien
Considering the success our Boxing teams continue to bring its a pity our national broadcaster doesn’t do more to promote it, I don’t think I saw a single ad to say it was been shown
Great news. Any chance they can retain the services of Billy Walsh and his back room team or has that been resolved
I think he is from the UK.
Boo, hiss.
well I hate cliches but just because you’re born in a stable…
oh just give it a rest !
* Paul*
plonker
@Paul Freeman. he’s from Belfast and a lovely Irishman
Paul Freeman – I realise that you are only Trolling – but for the record , Michael is a very proud young Irishman, from a very proud West Belfast home and who holds an Irish Passport, naturally !
I know that you British love to try and claim our Irish Champions, as yours , but describing him in particular, as having anything to do with Britain, is a misnomer and a total nonsense.
Always amazes me how the Irish media wipe their hands clean of “bad” Nordies while creaming their pants to claim the “good” Nordics. This kid is British. The Paddies abandoned his forefathers a long time ago.
I’d like to see him try and win something in the UFC though..
Or a darts tournament or something…
Or nightclub of the year.
Was the fight on rte?
Yea delayed coverage (of course) on 2