Michael Conlan's eagerly anticipated Rio rematch with Vladimir Nikitin will no longer take place in August after the Russian withdrew with an injury.
It was supposed to be a rematch after their controversial bantamweight quarter-final in 2016. The Belfast bout will no longer go ahead due to Nikitin's torn bicep, but the Irish boxer will still fight at the Falls Park. The show is already nearly a sell-out and a new opponent will be announced shortly.
Paddy Barnes, Sean McComb, Alfredo Meli, Callum Bradley, Dee Sullivan, Sean Duffy and Padraig McCrory are all set to feature on the undercard.
Conlan’s manager and older brother, Jamie, has confirmed that a harder fight will be sought. Speaking to the Irish News, he confirmed IBF #6 contender Sofiane Takoucht or European featherweight champion Andoni Gago are just two possibilities.
