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Phila Siu

Just days after Chinese boxer Lu Bin accused boxing judges at the Rio Olympics of being unfair and stealing his dreams, an outraged Irish world champion gave judges the middle fingers after an eye-dropping defeat to a Russian boxer.
Michael Conlan blasted the Olympic boxing body, the International Boxing Association (AIBA), of being “corrupt” in a expletive-laden rant at the judging after losing to Russia’s Vladmir Nikitin in the quarter-finals.
“AIBA are just corrupt. They’ve robbed me of my Olympic dream,” he said after losing on points in a unanimous decision that, to some observers, seemed at odds with what they had witnessed.
“Obviously, Russia can’t dope this time so they are obviously paying the judges a lot more.”
He vowed not to compete in any AIBA competition again, saying the association was “rotten to the core”. 
WATCH: golden moments on Day 10 at the Rio Olympics

The boxer lost 28-29 on all three scorecards. The three judges – from Brazil, Sri Lanka and Poland – all gave Conlan the second round 10-9, 10-9, 10-9, but scored the first and last in favour of his rival.
“I was boxing the ears off him, I don’t know how it went against me,” said Conlan, who lingered in the ring after the fight, twirling his vest around his head to applause from the crowd. 
“He was completely surprised (to win). He roared like he’d won the Olympic gold... He knows he didn’t win.”
The AIBA was plunged into controversy after Chinese boxer Lu’s surprise defeat just a few days ago. Lu cornered his opponent Mungai Warui from Kenya with a flurry of hard-hitting punches in that match.
Lu was so sure he would win he had his arm up before the judges lifted Warui’s arm, declaring that the Kenya boxer has won. A shocked Lu broke down in tears.
“The judges have stolen my dreams,” Lu wrote on his Chinese microblogging site Weibo.
“I have no regrets because I have pushed myself to the limit till the very last minute. All I could do was to show what I have at the Olympics. I could not change the judges’ decisions.”
WATCH: Chinese boxer Lu Bin is set to repeat Zou Shiming's success at the Olympics

Popular actress Li Bing Bing showed her support to Lu on Weibo, writing that “justice is in everyone’s minds”.

An AIBA spokesman said Conlan was a champion who had high expectations and was understandably disappointed to have lost.
“Afterwards, it’s his personal judgement,” the spokesman said. “All I can say is that AIBA is striving for a fair, level playing field.”
“The idea is not to benefit one country towards another, we represent 200 national federations. These statements are groundless but he’s free to have his opinion.”
WATCH: Relive the action involving Hong Kong athletes on Day 11 at the Rio Olympic

Russian officials said the judging had to be respected and boxers should show dignity in defeat.
“The Russians are constantly being accused of something. Let’s deal with these things in a dignified way,” said Igor Kazikov, head of the Russian delegation at the Games.
“There were judges sitting there, professionals who take responsibility for these things. Why is there this mistrust all the time?”

“Dozens of Russian athletes, including virtually the entire track and field team, were suspended as part of sanctions against the country for a systematic state-backed doping programme that included the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.
The scoring system has been changed for Rio from a computerised system to a professional-style, 10-point one.
US coach Billy Walsh, who is Irish, joined in the criticism after his light-welterweight Gary Russell missed out on a medal when a split decision went to Uzbekistan’s Fazliddin Gaibnazarov.
“The judging has been atrocious,” he said. “The last time I saw it as bad was in Seoul in 1988 when Roy Jones got robbed in the final.”
Additional reporting Reuters


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Rio 2016 Olympic Games

First China’s Lu Bin, now Irish boxer Michael Conlan shows judges his contempt – with his middle fingers

Ireland’s Michael Conlan gestures to the judges after a surprise unanimous points decision is surprisingly awarded to his Russian opponent Vladimir Nikitin. Photo: EPA

Blood-covered Russian Vladimir Nikitin reacts to winning against Ireland’s Michael Conlan during the men’s bantam (56kg) quarter-finals at Riocentro Pavilion 6 on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Michael Conlan of Ireland (red) and Vladimir Nikitin of Russia in action. Photo: EPA

Russia’s Evgeny Tishchenko answers media questions on Monday after his own surprise points decision victory over Vassiliy Levit of Kazakhstan. Photo: AFP

Beaten China boxer mocked by western press, called a hero at home after awkward ‘victory’ celebration

Lu Bin is a hero in China. Photo: Sina Weibo

Lu Bin keen to follow in Zou Shiming’s footsteps and win Olympic boxing gold

Chinese boxer Lu Bin is keen to emulate compatriot Zou Shiming by winning Olympic gold. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

Zou Shiming, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time World Amateur Champion from China, smiles during a tv interview after working out, Wednesday, June 8, 2016, at Mendez Gym in New York. Zou will be defending his WBO International flyweight title and No. 2 world rating in a 10-round bout against Jozsef Ajtai of Hungary,Saturday, June 11 at Madison Square Garden. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Chinese boxer Lu Bin is to keen succeed compatriot Zou Shiming for winning gold medal in Rio. SCMP Pictures (Handout)

Sport

Boxing

Amateur world champion in expletive-laden outburst at judging after losing to Russia’s Vladmir Nikitin in the quarter-finals


First China’s Lu Bin, now Irish boxer Michael Conlan shows judges his contempt – with his middle fingers

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Amateur world champion in expletive-laden outburst at judging after losing to Russia’s Vladmir Nikitin in the quarter-finals

WATCH: golden moments on Day 10 at the Rio Olympics

Amateur world champion in expletive-laden outburst at judging after losing to Russia’s Vladmir Nikitin in the quarter-finals