In a show of patriotism, Irish betting company Paddy Power has announced it will pay out on all bets which picked Michael Conlan as the winner in the boxing quarter-final match in Rio.
Not only that, but it will also pay out all bets on Conlan winning a medal, and winning the gold.
The controversial result, which saw judges unanimously declare Conlan’s Russian opponent Vladimir Nikitin the winner, has been widely panned by commentators who feel the Irish boxer led the match throughout.
We're paying out on Michael Conlan to win #Gold at #Rio2016 & to win his fight today against Nikitin after that shocking decision. #Justice
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) August 16, 2016
A spokesman for Paddy Power said: “The whole thing stinks, absolutely stinks, and our heart goes out to Michael Conlan after he was robbed of victory.”
Hey @AIBA_Boxing judges, Michael Conlan sends his regards. pic.twitter.com/unW0yhlbwK
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) August 16, 2016
“The entire country was behind Michael and as you might imagine we took plenty of bets from patriotic punters who were backing him to do the business, and it’s only fair that we pay out on him as the winner.”
Conlan himself has declared the result “a shambles” in an expletive-fuelled rant with RTE Sport.
