RIO DE JANEIRO -- Russian boxer Vladimir Nikitin got a controversial win by decision over world champion Michael Conlan to advance to the bantamweight semifinal, but won’t face U.S. prospect Shakur Stevenson after all.
US boxer Shakur Stevenson advances to Olympic final after Russian withdraws
Stevenson’s controversial Russian opponent has withdrawn from competition due to injury.
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Stevenson, who was scheduled to face the Russian athlete at 1:30 p.m. ET Thursday, was declared the winner via walkover after Nikitin has decided to withdraw due to an injury, the United States Olympic Committee has announced.
The other semifinal features Cuba’s Robeisy Ramirez vs. Uzbekistan’s Murodjon Akhmadaliev at 1:45 p.m. ET Thursday, and Stevenson hopes that the 2012 Olympic gold medalist Ramirez comes out victorious.
“Well my opponent pulled out of the fight due to injury, I will be fighting Saturday for the gold medal and I’m waiting on the winner out of Cuba and Uzbekistan,” Stevenson posted on his Instagram page. “I want Cuba to win bad tho ‘cause I been wanting to fight the 2012 Olympic gold medalist from Cuba forever!”
The bantamweight final bout is set for 1:15 p.m ET Saturday.
Also on his Instagram page, Stvenson shared a video of boxing legend Floyd Mayweather calling him the “next Floyd Mayweather,” predicting that he could beat his record one day.
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