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"He's a universal boxer, he deserves to be World Champion" - Billy Walsh praises Michael Conlan after he wins gold at Doha

Speaking to Off The Ball in the wake of another medal to add to the collection, Billy Walsh spoke...



"He's a universal boxe...
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"He's a universal boxer, he deserves to be World Champion" - Billy Walsh praises Michael Conlan after he wins gold at Doha

Speaking to Off The Ball in the wake of another medal to add to the collection, Billy Walsh spoke about Michael's amazing achievement. 

He highlighted that the game plan changed as the fight wore on, and while they had planned to box their opponent Murodjon Akhmadaliev from distance, but they needed to adjust that when they got into the fight.

"After thirty seconds or a minute, Michael felt that he was too strong and he wouldn't be able to sustain the pace so he decided to fight him inside and beat him at his own game". 

With the first two rounds being a split decision, the word got through to the corner that they were ahead so he told him to go out and enjoy himself in the final round, although things almost took a bit of a turn after that: "with about 30 seconds to go he got caught with a right hook that put him on the seat of the pants and it was a a bit hairy there for a few seconds". 

However, he saw out the fight, and Walsh paid tribute to Conlan's natural ability, stating "he's a universal boxer, he can fight southpaw, orthodox...he can do everything. He deserves to be World Champion". 

Walsh also added that the young boxer's determination and focus has played a huge role in his getting to this point, as well as his confidence in his ability: "He told me in January that he was going to be World Champion in October, and nothing has been on his mind [except that]".

There was controversy for the Irish camp too, in that Michael O'Reilly was denied a place at the Olympics in a bout where it seemed there was only one clear winner, but the hand of Hosam Abdin of Egypt was held aloft at the end instead of O'Reilly's.

Walsh said "I'm astounded to be honest with you. There's a young man, his opportunity to qualify for the Olympic Games, who's done tremendously well this year and is poised to finish in the top four in the world, and it's been taken away from him, wrongly in my opinion". 

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