Boxing judges on the ropes over bribery, bout-fixing claims

Either Olympic boxing is a rigged game or Irish fighter Michael Conlan is a short-tempered, bad sport—it depends who you believe.

Today, the governing body of amateur boxing, AIBA, sent some Olympic judges home following accusations, spurred by Conlan, that they have fixed matches throughout the tournament. But AIBA also claimed no judges took bribes and called Conlan a rumor-monger.

Fans and fighters have doubted the sport’s integrity for years. The latest uproar exploded yesterday after Conlan, a gold-medal favorite, lost—by a unanimous decision for Russian Vladimir Nikitin—a quarterfinal bout he had dominated.

When Conlan heard the news, he shouted into a ringside microphone obscenities about AIBA, claiming the judges were bribed to choose Nikitin: “They’re known for being cheats. Amateur boxing stinks from the core right to the top.”

Conlan, the world champion of his division, didn’t stop there. He called out Russian President Vladimir Putin on Twitter: “Hey, Vlad … How much did they charge you, bro?”

Most of those watching the bout, including American fighter Shakur Stevenson and his coach, thought Conlan had been robbed. Stevenson would have met Conlan tomorrow if the Irishman had won. Now he is supposed to face Nikitin in his quarterfinal bout, but Nikitin has reportedly pulled out because Conlan beat up his face so badly.

Stevenson says he can’t be sure of a fair decision, not in the face of recent controversies. Many fighters and fans say the corruption inside the sport is only getting worse and this Olympics is a prime example.

The Guardian reported before the games even started that senior AIBA officials, speaking off the record, said they expected Olympic matches, even medal-winning bouts, to be rigged. One said there would be “no doubt,” and said referees gather before big bouts to decide who will win.

Rio seems to have become what the Guardian’s report predicted. Yesterday, Ireland’s Katie Taylor lost in a controversial decision. Last night, the crowd booed as Russian heavyweight Evgeny Tishchenk claimed gold instead of his opponent, the apparently-dominating Vassiliy Levit of Kazakhstan. Then, an hour after Conlon’s exit, American Gary Russell knocked his opponent, Fazliddin Gaibnazarov, across the ring twice and at the final bell knocked him to his knees—but Russell still lost the quarterfinal bout.

“He got robbed,” yelled his father, Gary Russell Sr.

U.S. head coach Billy Walsh, a respected figure in boxing, told a reporter these Olympics have been the worst for decades: “We all wonder why we are out here working our socks off trying to get our guys ready.”

AIBA said it sent a “handful” of judges home but current results will stand. Officials claimed to have examined the results and said they did not have facts to back up rumors of bribery.