How the pandemic helped Michael Conlan fall in love with boxing again

Undefeated boxer Michael Conlan explains how his pandemic experience has re-ignited his love for boxing. He returns to the ring, rejuvenated. 

It’s natural for people to become disenfranchised with there profession at some point, and undefeated featherweight boxer Michael Conlan is no different.

Conlan (13-0, 7 KOs), 28, of Belfast, Northern Ireland, has made boxing his life. Boxing since preadolescence, Conlan enjoyed a highly successful amateur career before turning professional in 2017. He won a world amateur title and an Olympic bronze medal before winning all of his 13 professional contests.

In March of 2020, Conlan was preparing for his fourth appearance at Madison Square Garden on St. Patrick’s Day. However, days before his bout, the COVID-19 pandemic caused lockdowns all over the world, and his fight was canceled.

At the time, Conlan tweeted he was “gutted” about the fight falling through, but time has a way of offering perspective. What initially seemed detrimental to Conlan’s career turned into newfound inspiration and a fresh mindset.

During his absence from the ring, Conlan reflected on his situation and realized that he was missing something. Somewhere along the way, Conlan’s feelings towards boxing shifted from love to work. The sport lost its luster, and Conlan wasn’t fully aware of it.

“For every fighter, it’s the same,” Conlan told FanSided. “Once you’ve been doing it [boxing] for so long and so often, it does stagnate, and it does get a bit ‘it’s my job’ sort of thing instead of this is my passion.

“The enjoyment wasn’t there as much in the training. It was just like we got to get this done and do it. Whereas now, I’m enjoying every session. I’m training harder than I’ve ever trained. It was probably a fair thing to say that my mind was stagnated a bit with the repetitiveness because since I’ve turned pro, I’ve been in training camp the whole time.”

While away from the sport, Conlan felt a sense of freedom that he hasn’t enjoyed for some time. It wasn’t that he disliked boxing, but for the first time in as long as he could remember, he didn’t have the stress of his next obligation hanging over him.

“Lockdown for me was fantastic,” said Conlan. “I’ve been home more than I’ve been home since I was 17. Since I got onto the Irish National Team, I’ve been away every week basically my whole life.

“To have that kind of break from the whole thing and not having to worry about the next fight and where my weight needs to be for training camp and all this stuff was really good for my mind.”

Michael Conlan is driven to win titles in three different weight classes. He wants to make a junior featherweight championship his first.

With the world at a standstill, Conlan took advantage of the newfound time he had with his family. It turns out that he badly needed a respite from the sweet science, and it took forced absence to come to that realization.

“To have that kind of break from the whole thing and not having to worry about the next fight and where my weight needs to be for training camp and all this stuff was really good for my mind,” said Conlan.

“It’s the most I’ve been around my kids since they were born,” added Conlan. “It was great.”

In the past, Conlan didn’t have a choice in terms of training. He had to do it to prepare for his next match. With no fight on the horizon, training became a leisure activity to maintain a healthy lifestyle. He rediscovered enjoyment for practice because it wasn’t required. It was fun again.

“I was training just for the enjoyment,” said Conlan gleefully. “I was training without having to do it as my job. I really, really loved it. It brought back a passion and spark that I didn’t think was there because I’ve been doing this my whole life.”

With a renewed enthusiasm for boxing, Conlan believes he is in the best shape of his life heading into his next bout on Saturday, Aug. 15, against Sofiane Takoucht (35-4-1, 13 KOs). Takoucht lost his last contest in 2019, which was for Josh Warrington’s IBF belt. He was stopped in the second round.

Conlan’s dreams stretch far beyond his matchup with Takoucht. He’s eyeing the vacant WBO junior featherweight title up for grabs between Tramaine Williams and Angelo Leo on Saturday, Aug. 1. Stephen Fulton was supposed to fight Leo, but a positive COVID-19 test forced his removal from the card.

Before Fulton’s positive test, Conlan believed he would become the mandatory challenger assuming he wins against Takoucht and declares his intention to fight at the lower weight.

“Yes, 100 percent I will fight again [in 2020],” said Conlan about his plans after Takoucht. “Fingers crossed it could be for a world title. If not, it will be at 122 for an interim fight and then a world title, I hope. I know I will be in mandatory position for the WBO 122-pound title.”

Conlan’s fighting spirit is revitalized, and his goals are lofty, but he’s confident that they’re within his grasp.

“My mindset where I’m at the moment, everything just seems like it’s set for 122, and that gives me that chance to create that history, which I’ve always wanted to create.”

Watch Michael Conlan vs. Sofiane Takoucht on Saturday, Aug. 15, at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Undercards will be streamed on ESPN+ starting at 2 p.m. ET.