Michael Conlan crowned Ireland’s first male World Boxing Champion

Michael Conlan celebrates with his gold medal this evening.

But the Irishman was quickly on his feet – perhaps a touch too quickly – and for the final half-minute he concentrated on denying Akhmadaliev the space to throw another bombshell.

“It’s is a world-title fight for him – he’s got to win this fight to guarantee he has his place”, said Walsh.

The stylish teenager danced, bobbed and weaved his way to the title in the light-flyweight division (46-49kg), and, like Conlan, even overcame being knocked down in the final round.

Conlan has worked closely with coaches Billy Walsh and Zaur Antia on his tactical plans for each fight and the coaches are familiar with their Uzbek opponent as he claimed a close 2-1 split decision over the Irish captain’s fellow Belfast boxer Kurt Walker back in February – something which Conlan is taking confidence from. I just wish he was here with me.

“There’s a young man, his opportunity to qualify for the Olympic Games, who’s done tremendously well this year and is poised to finish in the top four in the world, and it’s been taken away from him, wrongly in my opinion”.

“I’m a world champion! To come here and make history for Ireland is something special”.

Conan, cheered on by a large number of Irish fans in the packed Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena in the Qatari capital, also became a father for the first time this year and said he was “desperate” to get home to see his baby daughter. “So this is for my baby and for her”.

“Since the games began in 1974 the IABA have been trying”.

“I have never been put down in my life, head shot or body shot”.

Earlier, Michael O’Reilly lost a controversial decision to Hosam Abdin of Egypt in their box-off for a place at the Olympics.

“If it had been over more than three rounds then of course I would have boxed the ears off him and maybe I could have done more boxing and moving in the last round but in the first two rounds I had to stand and fight and I proved that I could beat him at close range or at distance”.

In the 41-year history of these championships, only 10 Irishmen have won medals and Conlan is now hoping that Moate’s Joe Ward can today join him in the status of gold medal victor as he bids for the light-heavyweight crown. The boxers are expected to step through the ropes at around 6.30pm Irish time.