The Michael Conlan Madison Square Garden debut on March 17th is one eagerly anticipated by not just Irish boxing fans around the world, but boxing fans period.
Since his palpable from the heart words after the now infamous 2016 Rio Olympics last year, the Irishman’s star has risen considerably.
So much so that even Irish UFC fight star Conor McGregor has been pencilled in for the Michael Conlan Madison Square Garden ring walk come ‘Paddy’s Day’.
Speaking to Red Gloves News Conlan is adamant that he is not taking his debut opponent lightly ahead of the St.Patrick’s weekend blockbuster in New York.
His opponent, Tim Ibarra, as it turns out has shared the ring in the past with Conlan’s new pro trainer – Manny Robles:
“I feel like March 17th you are going to see dynamite. This opponent was just given to us by the guys at Top Rank. We didn’t choose this guy. The Top Rank boys just picked him. There was no thought behind the reason in terms of Manny (Robles) beating him because by the time I’m going to fight him, he’s going to be a different guy. He’s going to be a more prepared guy. A guy who’s coming to get a big victory. I’m just going to have to go out and knock him out.“
Conlan has been tipped as potentially one of boxing’s next big stars in the coming years.
By all accounts, it looks like he will be fast tracked in the US predominately towards a crack at a world title, whilst still coming back at least once a year to box in Ireland.
This fast track trend is something been seen more and more in recent years for amateur starlets who have strong amateur pedigrees.
Conlan’s new promotional stablemate at Top Rank Vasyl Lomachenko springs to mind in that regard.
A lot of anticipation has been building ahead of the Michael Conlan Madison Square Garden debut and with the fight falling on St.Patrick’s night itself, you can guarantee there will be one hell of an atmosphere at the Garden from the Irish.
A bubbling cauldron of passionate, singing Irish faithful, cheering on what could be the man to take the country’s pugilism back to the big world stage.
For international readers who may not yet be acquainted with Conlan’s work, check out the time when he became the world amateur champion in 2015 in Doha:
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