Bitter Olympic rivals Michael Conlan of Ireland and Vladimir Nikitin of Russia tangled for 10 rounds at the Madison Square Garden in New York Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) with Conlan prevailed by unanimous decision with scores 98-92, 99-91 and 100-90.
Conlan boxed the raging bull Nikitin majority of the rounds and then went toe to toe in the seventh round onwards to dominate and settle the score with his Russian rival.
Nikitin was warned twice by Referee Harvey Dock for forcing his way inside with his elbows. In the 8th round Conlan sustained a cut above his right eye while Nikitin was also cut above his left eye in the ninth round.
Conlan now upped his undefeated record to 13-0 with 7KOs while Nikitin, fighting only in his 4th professional fight, dropped to 3-1.
Nikitin beat Conlan twice in the amateurs the last one during the quarterfinals of the Rio Olympics when Conlan, expecting to win his fight against Nikitin, was so furious when the winner was announced that he gestured with his middle finger towards the judges and calling AIBA as 'cheats' earning him a maximum fine from the amateur boxing organization.
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