The Michael Conlan featherweight revolution on St. Patrick’s Day
Former Olympic medalist and current featherweight contender Michael Conlan talks to FanSided about his 2019 return to MSG on St. Patrick’s Day.
Michael Conlan (10-0, 6 KOs) has been on boxing enthusiasts’ radars for years. His accomplishments as an amateur — from winning a bronze medal at the Olympics in 2012 to a world championship in 2015 — demonstrated his immense potential. He’s on the fast track to a world title and a victory on St. Patrick’s Day at New York’s Madison Square Garden would add to his growing legacy.
Conlan is from Belfast, Northern Ireland, which makes him a popular boxing draw on St. Patrick’s Day. Madison Square Garden has hosted two of his previous St. Patrick’s Day bouts, and it will replicate that feat for a third time on Sunday, March 17 when Conlan headlines a night of boxing for Top Rank on ESPN+.
When FanSided first talked to Conlan in 2018, he was rated by Boxrec.com as the 70th best featherweight in the world. Conlan didn’t agree with their evaluation.
“If you look at every opponent that I’ve faced, not one of them has had a losing record,” said Conlan at the time. “The worst there’s been is an even record.”
Conlan went on to outpoint Jason Cunningham in December by unanimous decision. It was Conlan’s first 10-round fight, and he passed the test with flying colors. Boxrec.com awarded him with a new ranking of 40th.
With his 2019 debut nearing, Conlan is looking forward to performing at the Garden for the fifth time. It’s quickly becoming his transplanted home.
Conlan recently told FanSided, “I’ve got to be very grateful to be boxing at the Garden, but I also got to be very grateful for the staff at the Garden, the people at the Garden. It’s just like I’m part of the family. They treat me like one of their own.”
His St. Patrick’s Day bout is against Ruben Garcia Hernandez (24-3-2, 10 KOs) who’s a seasoned professional despite being only 25 years old. He lacks wins against notable opposition, but he did go the distance with Nonito Donaire in 2017 losing by unanimous decision.
“He’s [Hernandez] a tough guy,” said Conlan out of respect to his opponent. “He has grit and determination. He’ll be the first kind of Mexican [fighter] who’s gonna come and try to put my head off and upset the applecart. ”
The idea for Conlan is to look good against Hernandez and keep his momentum moving forward. He’s not hunting for a knockdown, but he plans on putting forth an entertaining show for his fans.
“I just want to put on a great performance,” explained Conlan. “I want to improve my overall boxing ability. If the knockout comes, it comes. I always want that to happen. I would love that to happen.”
Even though Conlan hails from Northern Ireland, the U.S. is becoming one of his favorite fight destinations. He has fought more times at the Garden than any other venue. His familiarity with the Garden gives him a hometown feel with all the perks that go along with it.
“It does kind of give me a lot more of an edge,” said the undefeated Conlan. “I think I’m at home when I’m there. I’m treated like I’m at home. I have that edge where you’re fighting at my Garden, at my MSG.”
Conlan’s first professional bout took place at the Garden in 2017. He was awed by the love and support of New York’s fanbase. He knew from that moment on that the Garden would be special for him.
“The first St. Patrick’s Day when I fought in the Garden, I was expecting a lot of Irish people, but I never envisioned it being as big as what it actually was,” recalled Conlan. “That’s something that will live with me for the rest of my life. I’m very grateful to have those fans.”
If Conlan is victorious on St. Patrick’s Day, he hopes to fight three more times in 2019 with a return to Ireland in the works for August. Anyone that has followed his rise through the amateur ranks could tell that he’s an exceptional boxer. He’s deadset on fulfilling the high expectations that surround him, and 2019 is critical in his development.
Next. From east to west, Dmitry Bivol's boxing rise. dark
His road to a world title runs through New York on Sunday, March 17 on St. Patrick’s Day. You can watch the Conlan revolution transpire on ESPN+. Undercard coverage begins at 3 p.m. ET with the main event scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.