BROADCASTER BT have apologised after a graphic showing Michael Conlan fighting under a British flag was used prior to his bout with Adeilson Dos Santos at the weekend.
The featherweight represented Ireland at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics before turning pro last year.
The 79-73 points victory over the Brazilian at Belfast’s SSE Arena was his eighth victory since 2017 and should have been the sweetest one to date for the west Belfast star.
But talk after the fight was dominated by BT Sport's gaffe.
“Due to an error, the incorrect flag was briefly shown alongside Michael Conlan on screen last night. We apologise for the mistake,” said BT in a statement.
It was too little too late for some:
@btsport sort it out. Michael Conlan is irish pic.twitter.com/RksAlPMtbj
— sean donaghy (@sean_donaghy) June 30, 2018
@BTSportBoxing yous have the wrong flag on Michael Conlan, he’s not British and never will be, he’s Irish and proud to be 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪
— Sean O'Connor (@SeanOConnor96) June 30, 2018
I wonder how many complaints @BoxNation and @BTSportBoxing got about Michael Conlan having the Union Flag next to his name before the change it to the Northern Irish flag at the beginning of round 5?
— Southpaw Jab (@southpaw_jab) June 30, 2018
Outside the ring, Conlan has formed a strong bond with another one of Belfast’s favourite sons Carl Frampton. Both had distinguished spells boxing for Ireland at amateur level and Conlan will hope his professional career can follow a similar trajectory.
But as deep as that friendship is, Conlan wouldn’t rule out the possibility that their paths may cross at some point in the future.
Speaking earlier this week to IFL TV he said: “I’m friends with Carl and he [was] there Saturday night, supporting me, and I’ll be at Windsor, supporting him. But listen, money talks and if the money was right for both of us to fight, he wouldn’t say no, I wouldn’t say no. A hundred percent, it could happen.”
