Report: Russian boxer who won controversial match won't fight again in Rio

Medal count | Olympic schedule | Olympic news

Vladimir Nikitin, the Russian bantamweight boxer who won a highly controversial fight over Ireland’s Michael Conlan, will not fight again in the Olympics, according to reports.

Nikitin had been scheduled to take on Shakur Stevenson of Team USA. Instead, Nikitin has opted out of the fight because, according to Team USA’s coach Billy Walsh, Russian coaches indicated Nikitin’s “face is a mess” following two hard-fought bouts.

Nikitin defeated Conlan on Tuesday in a highly questionable judging decision that sent Conlan into a cursing, bird-throwing, angry-tweeting tirade of fury.

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“I came for gold and I’ve been cheated,” Conlan said after the fight. “I’ll not do another Olympics. I would advise anybody not to compete for AIBA.” Conlan has not directly commented on Nikitin’s withdrawal, but has retweeted a message suggesting he ought to fight in Nikitin’s place.

Nikitin has until weigh-in on Wednesday to make his decision on whether to withdraw. If he does so, he will receive the bronze, while Stevenson will go on to meet either Robeisy Ramirez Carrazana of Cuba or Murodjon Akhmadaliev of Uzbekistan on Saturday evening.

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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports and the author of EARNHARDT NATION, on sale now at Amazon or wherever books are sold. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter or on Facebook.