Conlan’s face was left streaked in blood after the third-round head clash but the small zigzag cut is not expected to compromise his future in the competition.

Conlan said: “Gold at the Commonwealth Games would rank up there with the Olympics because it would mean winning a competition instead of finishing third.

“Gold is the only one I want – I don’t want silver and I don’t want bronze and I will throw them away if I do get them.

“On my day if I come in in the right frame of mind nobody is going to beat me. Everybody has their off days, but I’m not going to have an off day at these Commonwealth Games.”

Conlan was predictably too strong for the 19-year-old from the tiny Pacific atoll, and would have marked his opener down as a useful work-out but for his final round cut scare.

The Belfast man opened up in round two, clattering two right hands which forced standing counts and left the referee on the brink of stopping the contest.

Despite an increase in cuts since world governing body AIBA voted to abolish headguards for men in the wake of the London Olympics, Conlan maintains it was probably the right decision.

He added: “I loved fighting with the headguard but cuts are going to be dangerous when you turn professional so you’re better off learning now. Boxing is just going to have to get used to it.”