The International Boxing Association (AIBA) acted after several aggrieved boxers and their trainers accused the world organisation of either corruption or overseeing what one highly respected coach called some “crazy” judging decisions in Brazil.
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During a bitter internal battle the Aiba president and International Olympic Committee member, Dr CK Wu, fired the previous executive director, Ho Kim, past year and replaced him with Bouzidi, his then deputy.
That means operational responsibilities for the remainder of the Olympic boxing will be taken over by Franco Falcinelli, president of the European Boxing Confederation, at the expense of Karim Bouzidi.
But Conlan is sceptical if the measure will be enforced, adding that referee Kheira Sidi Yakoub is not one of those kicked out by AIBA. “It is of paramount importance to protect our sport and its R&J community whose integrity has been put into question”.
It’s all too little, too late for fuming Irish fighter Michael Conlan as the boxing fallout snowballs at the Rio Olympics. “It is essential AIBA stands to the values of respect, sportsmanship, excellence and remains committed to a fair and transparent sport”.
Vladimir Nikitin, who was fortunate to receive decisions over Chatchai Bundee and Michael Conlan, will not compete in his semifinal match.
Russian boxer Vladimir Nikitin got a controversial win by decision over world champion Michael Conlan to advance to the bantamweight semifinal, but won’t face USA prospect Shakur Stevenson after all. He will nevertheless be awarded a bronze medal.
The International Boxing Association (AIBA) confirmed Thursday that Stevenson advanced by walkover.
The AIBA said in a statement that “less than a handful” of the first 239 bouts had been deemed incompetently judged or refereed.
According to a report by the Independent Michael Conlan said, “Even before the fight the referee said to me “keep your head up”.
“I haven’t seen it as bad since then”, he said noting that judges can be “very, very subjective”. What happened after that? The computer came into the equation.
Walsh suggested that the Olympics may need to go back to a computerized system of judging. “But we stayed focused, we worked on the game plan, got there this morning and everybody was shaking his (Stevenson’s) hand and saying “congratulations, you move on to the next round”.
Be Civil – It’s OK to have a difference in opinion but there’s no need to be a jerk.
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“I don’t know how much we would have got out of the Russian because he’s kind of beat-up a little bit”, he said.
