Rio Revenge back on- Conlan 99% sure Nikitin in New York is next
Michael Conlan [12(7)-0] will finally rematch Vladimir Nikitin [3-0] in America on December 14.
The Russian revenge mission is back on, as the Belfast fighter has agreed to fight his former amateur foe on a big Top Rank card, that includes Richard Commey versus Teofimo Lopez and pound for pound star Terence Crawford against Egidijus Kavaliauskas.
Speaking to IFL TV the Olympic bronze medal winner confirmed he has agreed a deal to take on the Russian – and believes his former amateur foe has done the same.
Top Rank have yet to make an official announcement in that regard, but the Adam Booth trained fighter confirmed he is 99 percent sure Nikitin is his next opponent.
The World Championships gold medal winner was set to face the Russian, who was in the opposite corner when he was infamously cheated out of a place in the semi finals of the Rio Olympic Games, at the massive Feile an Phobail show in early August.
However, weeks before the proposed top of the bill clash for a 10,000 Falls Park sell out was due to take place Nikitin pulled out through injury.
Nikitin, who was signed by Top Rank with a Rio rematch in mind cited bicep injuries as the reason he wouldn’t be travelling to Belfast. Indeed, his team indicated he injured both biceps and did such damage he would be absent for the ring for sometime.
The news prompted everyone to accept that the rematch ship had sailed and the revenge mission was over. However, Conlan will get the chance to put the 29-year-old in his rear view mirror at Madison Square Garden come Christmas time.
“It’s been announced but not formally really. Your 100 percent right (to think it will be Nikitin). The LA Times rang (to do an interview) they obviously spoke with Top Rank. I spoke with Top Rank it’s all agreed, everything is signed I think? It’s all agreed myside anyway. He has agreed, I think. It’s meant to be Nikitin, it’s 99 percent until it’s officially announced really,” Conlan told IFL TV.
