More to come from Conlan, says Walsh

Michael Conlan was fancied for a medal at these Olympics ever since he qualified at the world championships in Baku last November, when he was beaten by Andy Selby by just one point.

The 20-year-old Belfast man always felt he should have won that fight and, from the time the draw was made, he was looking forward to the rematch.

On Wednesday night Conlan won his quarter-final to claim a bronze medal but hopes of a rematch with Selby in tonight’s semi-final (8.45pm) were dashed when the Welshman was beaten by Cuban southpaw, Robeisy Ramirez, who out-pointed him 16-11.

Conlan beat Nordine Oubaali for a third time, to win his quarter final. Oubaali lost to Shiming Zou as a light flyweight in Beijing as well. But Conlan showed maturity and skill way beyond his years.

“Michael has won an Olympic medal and we have not seen the best of him yet,” Billy Walsh insisted. “He’s better than what he has shown. I think having his medal will give him confidence and relax him.

“He just can’t believe he’s an Olympic medallist at 20, it’s amazing. I think from now on — with the monkey is off his back — he’ll just go out and enjoy himself. His opponent has a very tight defence, he’s a southpaw as well. Michael usually turns southpaw when he’s fighting southpaws. The Cuban’s last fight was close enough against Selby but Selby just kept hitting gloves and your man reacted after that. Michael would be a little bit more precise — try and pick his shots.”

He recalled how he first became aware of Conlan when he won his first senior title a couple of years ago.

“Within a few weeks, maybe a month, we had him in the gym,” he said. “Myself and Zaur (Antia) looked at one another and said ‘Wow, this guy is something special,’ The first couple of tournaments we brought him out to — gold medal, gold medal. And we said ‘This guy is going to qualify’. We knew straight away.

“He was very unlucky against Andrew Selby in the quarter-finals in Baku. There were two Welshmen sitting at the top table at the time — on the judging committee, at the timer — they were just sitting there, doing nothing. But, first round, he (Selby) was three points up and I thought there’s no way. He blocked a lot. So he (Conlan) won the next round by a point and the next by a point and lost the fight by a point.

“So we were concerned obviously about the first round and that was key the other night that we stayed level after the first. We didn’t want to go behind because we’re chasing then. So that’ll be the plan again, to be there or thereabouts after the first round because Michael will finish strong.”